Yunomine Onsen is the oldest hot spring in Japan with a history of approximately 1,800 years, and has long been known as a place for travelers on pilgrimages to Kumano to purify themselves and rest.
It was discovered around the 4th century, and later made its name known throughout Japan through the Kumano pilgrimages of successive emperors.
There is a public bathhouse in the center of the spa town with the atmosphere of a therapeutic bathhouse, and a “tsuboyu,” a natural hot spring rock bath at the foot of a creek bridge.
Tsuboyu was registered as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range” as a place for Kumano pilgrims to purify themselves by bathing.
It is the only World Heritage site in the world with hot springs and bathing facilities.
Inside a hut-like building on the bank of the Yunotani River is a small bathtub made of natural stone.
The bathtub is cozy and large enough for two adults.
There is only a changing area next to the bathtub, and soap and shampoo are not available.
The color of the water is sometimes clear, sometimes milky white, and sometimes bluish, and there is a legend that the color of the water changes seven times a day.
The source of the hot spring is distributed in more than a dozen places around the riverbed of the Yunomine River, and bubbles accompanying the export of hot spring water from the bottom of the river can be observed.
The spring is classified as a sulfur containing bicarbonate of soda spring with chloride, bicarbonate of soda, and sodium as its main components.
The gush temperature is 92.5°C, and the overall gush volume of Yunomine Hot Spring is 885 liters/minute. It is said to be effective for neuralgia, rheumatic diseases, skin diseases, diabetes, etc.
The hot spring baths can be reserved in shifts of 30 minutes, and visitors receive a number slip from the public bathhouse guard and wait their turn to bathe.
The baths are highly sought after by hot spring fans and are extremely popular, so the wait is often very long.
Visitors to the Tsuboyu can also bathe once in the nearby Yunomine Onsen public bathhouse, where they can choose either the “general hot spring,” whose temperature is adjusted by adding water, or the “kusuri-yu,” a hot spring with no water added and the source still intact.
The public bathhouse also has a hot spring water pump, and visitors can take hot spring water home with them.
6:00 - 21:00
No regular holidays (closed for cleaning)
Adults 800 yen
Under 12 years old: 400 yen
Users of the Tsuboyu can also bathe once in the “General Hot Spring” or “Kusuri Hot Spring” of the Yunomine Onsen Public Bathhouse.
From Shingu Station on the Kisei Main Line, approx. 60 min. by Kumano Gobo Nankai Bus or Nara Kotsu Yagi Shingu Express Bus
From Yamato Yagi Station on the Kintetsu Line, take the Nara Kotsu Yagi Shingu Express Bus (via Kintetsu Takada-shi Station, Kintetsu Gosho Station, and Gojo Station on the JR Wakayama Line); approximately 5 hours and 20 minutes