Okayama Prefecture is home to many high-quality hot springs that have long been loved by locals for their beneficial effects on the body, and although they are small in scale, they are always bustling with visitors. Among these, we will introduce some retro hot springs that are easily accessible by car from Okayama city. We visited Komori Onsen in Kibichuo Town , which was used as a sacred spring for healing by the lord of the Ikeda domain in Okayama ; Kashio Onsen in Kita Ward, Okayama City, which has thrived since the days of the Ashimori domain; and Haruteiyama Onsen in Asakuchi City, which is said to have healed the injuries of the demon in the legend of Ura!
2024.02.27-
Table of contents
- 1. Komori Onsen (Kibichuo Town)
- A long corridor and a space full of retro atmosphere
- changing room
- A rock bath built in the Meiji era
- Komori Onsen hot spring source
- 2. Kashio Onsen (Okayama City )
- Free-flowing hot spring
- changing room
- Rest area
- Family bath
- 3. Yoshozan Onsen
- Retro floor
- hot spring
- changing room
- sacred spring
- A stand where you can buy hot spring water
1. Komori Onsen (Kibichuo Town)
Okayama Prefecture Onsen, located in Kibichuo Town , is celebrating its 70th anniversary. During the Edo period, it is said that Ikeda Tsunamasa, the lord of Bizen , visited the hot spring for medical treatment, and it was bustling as the domain's only therapeutic hot spring. The hot spring once fell into disrepair after Shimizu was mixed into the source of the hot spring, but in Showa, as part of a postwar hot springs revival movement, drilling was carried out, and high-quality hot spring water began to flow in large quantities again. Since then, the hot spring has long been beloved as a hot spring associated with the Ikeda family.
A long corridor and a space full of retro atmosphere
Entering the entrance and walking down a long corridor, you'll find the reception desk at the Oku. There is no one there from the entrance to the reception, so I said "Excuse me," changed into slippers, and continued on. Along the way, I could see the stream water flowing from the corridor that crossed the river, and then I continued down another long corridor. I could feel the remnants of the Showa everywhere, and the shoulder massage machine on the floor brought back memories. The bath is located close to the stream downstairs. There was also a space where you could take a rest while looking out at the river.
changing room
Open the door to the women's bath and go down the stairs to find the changing room. Because it is an open space, you can leave your valuables at the front desk for 1,000 yen, receive a key, put them in a locker on the floor yourself, and get your money back when you return the key.
A rock bath built in the Meiji era
The rock bath, built in the Meiji era, is divided into two sections: hot (approximately 42 degrees) and lukewarm (approximately 40 degrees). The free-flowing natural hot spring is said to be effective in onsen therapy for chronic rheumatoid arthritis, chronic muscular rheumatism, neuralgia, neuritis, musculoskeletal disorders such as bone and joint disorders, traumatic injuries, and fatigue recovery. Soaking in the bath for too long can cause hot spring shock and cerebral anemia, so it's recommended to keep your bath time short and take a break afterwards. The water is alkaline simple hot spring (hypotonic alkaline low-temperature spring), and my skin felt smooth after I got out. The owner's skin is so beautiful, I wanted to keep coming back.
[Komori Onsen]
Address: 245 Okayama Prefecture , Kibichuo Town, Kaga Prefecture
TEL: 0867-34-0015
Business hours: Weekdays 11:00-16:30 (last reception at 15:30), Saturdays and Sundays 11:00-18:00 (last reception at 17:00)
*May change depending on the day Closed: Wednesdays, 1st and 3rd Fridays
*Prices may vary depending on the day. Bathing fee: 630 yen for adults, 450 yen for children (ages 3 to elementary school)
Parking: Available
Komori Onsen hot spring source
The source of the hot spring is located nearby. Legend has it that the hot spring was discovered when a heron was seen healing its wounds here before flying away. The fact that there has long been a Yakushido temple on a hill called "Keipuroyama" near the source of the hot spring suggests that it has been popular as a sacred spring with healing properties. Since the source of the hot spring is off-limits, I took a photo from a distance.
[Komori Onsen source] Location: Okayama Prefecture, Kaga , Kibichuo Town, Okayama Prefecture
2. Kashio Onsen (Okayama City )
Kashio Onsen is located in Kita Ward, Okayama City . During the Bunsei era, when there was a year of poor harvest, taxes were collected as strictly as usual, but in one corner of Kashio Onsen, rice and wheat ripened early and abundantly. A village headman found this strange and reported it to the lord of Ashimori Domain, who had foot soldiers dig to verify the truth. The wooden framework from that time still remains, and the hot spring mineral deposits still bloom with white flowers as in the past. During the Taisho era, the hot springs thrived as a Mogami Onsen inn. Currently, it is only open for bathing, but it continues to be loved by local people.
Free-flowing hot spring
The hot spring water flows freely and is generally effective for neuralgia, muscle pain, joint pain, frozen shoulder, motor paralysis, joint stiffness, bruises, sprains, chronic digestive diseases, hemorrhoids, and sensitivity to cold. It is also said to be effective for treating high blood pressure, cholelithiasis, chronic gynecological conditions, gout, arteriosclerosis, chronic cholecystitis, and chronic skin diseases. Depending on the weather, the strong sulfur smell can be noticeable, making you realize that this is a natural hot spring. The more tired you are, the more refreshing you feel after a bath, and your skin will become smoother. The owner's skin was also beautiful, as you might expect.
changing room
The changing room is an open space, so please leave your valuables in the locked lockers in the hallway.
Rest area
There are two rest areas, where you can relax and dry your hair, and hair dryers are also provided. The rooms are quite spacious.
Family bath
If you would like to bathe in a private space, you can also use the family bath by reservation (2,500 yen).
[Kashio Onsen]
Address: 2224-2 Awai, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture Kita Ward
TEL: 086-295-1548 Business hours: 10:00-18:30
Closed: Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays
Bathing fee: 800 yen for one bath, 1,300 yen for two baths, 2,500 yen for one family bath (reservation required)
Parking: Available
3. Yoshozan Onsen
Yoshozan Hot Springs is located atop Mt. Yoshozan in Asakuchi City , Okayama Okayama Prefecture . It's said that long ago, a demon inhabited Mt. Yoshozan, and one day, Kibitsuhiko-no-Mikoto came to defeat it. The demon fled after being hit by an arrow, but after bathing in the hot spring, it quickly regained its strength and rejoined the battle. Kibitsuhiko-no-Mikoto then located the hot spring, buried the source of the hot spring, and defeated the demon. While the hot springs became cold, they remain popular today for their healing properties. They are generally believed to be effective for neuralgia, muscle pain, joint pain, frozen shoulder, motor paralysis, joint stiffness, bruises, sprains, chronic digestive disorders, hemorrhoids, sensitivity to cold, recovery from illness, fatigue, and general health promotion. They are also said to be beneficial for gout, arteriosclerosis, high blood pressure, chronic cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, chronic dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, and chronic gynecological conditions. They are especially effective for skin diseases and neuralgia.
Retro floor
This floor has a retro atmosphere, with a reception desk where you can pay and relax.
hot spring
The bath was spacious. There was a washing area with a shower, but no soap or shampoo was provided, so please bring your own. Towels and soap can be purchased at reception. After getting out of the bath, my skin was as smooth as expected. It was a cold day, but the warm feeling on my body after the bath lasted all day, and I felt warmed to the core. The owner's skin was also beautiful.
changing room
There are lockers in the changing room, so I put my belongings in them and took the key. There are no hair dryers, so please bring your own if you need one.
sacred spring
The sacred spring is located nearby. Yoshozan Onsen was originally located in a corner of the grounds of a Tendai Buddhist temple, and Yakushido Hall is located on a hill about a 10-minute walk away.
A stand where you can buy hot spring water
There is also a hot spring water sales stand in the parking lot of Yoshozan Onsen (100 yen for 4 liters, 500 yen for 20 liters).
[Yoshozan Onsen]
Address: 2545-2 Kamitake, Kanemitsu Asakuchi City, Okayama Prefecture Prefecture
TEL: 0865-42-6611 Business hours: 9:00-16:00 (last reception at 15:30)
Closed: Mondays and Tuesdays (open on public holidays)
Bathing fee: Adults (junior high school students and above) 500 yen, children (junior high school students and below) 250 yen, rest (bathing fee included) 800 yen
Parking: Available
The contents on this page may partially contain automatic translation.