Shirakawa-gō Hirase Onsen

Gifu · 白川郷平瀬温泉

Shirakawa-gō Hirase Onsen is a hot spring town in Gifu, Japan. The water leaves the ground at 98°C, hot enough that it has to be cooled before anyone can get in. Officially the water is classed as chloride spring and sulfur spring.

Getting there

From Nagoyaabout 4 h

CarNot needed

JR PassCovers the train

Train to Takayama Station (JR)
Local bus, about 90 min

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

Chloride springSulfur spring

The water here

Chloride spring 塩化物泉

Salty water. The salt leaves a thin film on the skin, so you stay warm well after leaving the bath.

Sulfur spring 硫黄泉

The classic rotten-egg smell and milky white water. It can tarnish silver jewellery, so take it off.

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 — Gifu Inns with a private bath — Gifu