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Matsushima Onsen

Tochigi · 松島温泉

Matsushima Onsen is a hot spring town in Tochigi, Japan. The water leaves the ground at 39.7°C, comfortably warm. It measures pH 9.2 — strongly alkaline. Officially the water is classed as simple spring.

Getting there

From Tokyoabout 1½ h
From Kyoto / Osakaabout 3 h
CarTaxi from the station
JR PassCovers the train
  1. Train to Ujiie Station (JR)
  2. Taxi, about 10 min

Fly into Haneda or Narita. Times are rough estimates worked out from station locations, not a timetable — check the exact route on Google Maps.

Simple spring

The water here

Simple spring 単純温泉

Mild and low in dissolved minerals. Usually clear and gentle on the skin, which is why these baths are often recommended for first-timers.

With tattoos

Many public baths still turn away visible tattoos, and the rule is set by each bath, not by the town. The reliable way round it is to bathe privately: a room with its own open-air bath, or an inn with a private bath you can book for yourselves.

Rooms with an open-air bath — TochigiInns with a private bath — Tochigi

More on tattoos and onsen

Where to stay

Onsen inns — Sakura City

Opens Rakuten Travel, which lists inns in English. Onsen Guide earns a commission if you book through these links, at no extra cost to you.

Hot spring towns nearby

Kitsuregawa OnsenTochigi · 喜連川温泉Same area
Chloride springSulfur spring
Sōtome OnsenTochigi · 早乙女温泉Same area
Chloride springSulfur spring

Similar water elsewhere

Towns further away with the same kind of water — useful if this one is hard to reach or fully booked.

Hottarakashi OnsenYamanashi · ほったらかし温泉Also simple, similar pH
Simple spring
Nagato Yumoto OnsenYamaguchi · 長門湯本温泉Also simple, similar pH
Simple spring
Yujimata OnsenFukushima · 湯岐温泉Also simple, similar pH
Simple spring
Chōhachi OnsenToyama · 長八温泉Also simple, similar pH
Simple spring
Ashio OnsenTochigi · 足尾温泉Also simple, similar pH
Simple spring
Tobira OnsenNagano · 扉温泉Also simple, similar pH
Simple spring

The numbers

Water temperature
39.7°C
pH
9.2 (strongly alkaline)
Address in Japanese
栃木県さくら市

Figures from the town's Japanese Wikipedia article.

Read more

Japanese Wikipedia

Planning a first soak? Read how an onsen stay works, and what to do if you have tattoos.