Gensenya (formerly Yoakeyakuto Onsen)

Visited Hita Onsen "Gensen-ya" on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at 6:00 PM. Located along a highway near the Fukuoka Prefecture border in Hita City, Oita Prefecture, this hot spring facility combines a slimy, salt-rich sodium bicarbonate spring with traditional medicinal baths. According to the history posted, it originally opened as a medicinal bath facility around 1978. Later, after discovering hot springs, it operated as "Yoake Yakuyu Onsen," a day-trip hot spring facility combining medicinal baths and hot springs, from around 1984. In 2022, the facility underwent a partial renovation under a new owner, and changed its name to its current name, emphasizing its focus on the hot springs. Open from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM (tickets close at 7:30 PM), the entrance fee for adults is 600 yen + 50 yen (cash only). There are no shoe lockers, so shoes must be stored on a shelf behind the reception desk. There are no lockers, only baskets, and a 100 yen fee is charged for valuables in the lockers. Amenities include body soap, rinse-in shampoo, and a hair dryer. The soap is Futaba Chemical's "Libre Aloe," there are two Panasonic "Turbo Dry" hair dryers, and other amenities include a Tanita analog weighing scale. The bathing area is indoors only, and the men's and women's bathrooms are separated by a large rock. There are four shower mixer taps and two indoor baths: a large main bathtub (with hot spring water) and a smaller secondary bathtub (with hot spring water and medicinal bath). In one corner of the main bathtub is a high waterfall bath, and three logs of what appears to be cypress wood are floating spectacularly in the tub. A net filled with bundles of medicinal herbs is floating in the secondary bathtub. According to the 2018 analysis report, the spring quality is a hypotonic, weakly alkaline, high-temperature spring (92.6 L/min, 45.0°C, pH 7.9, 2205 mg) sodium bicarbonate chloride spring with metaboric acid exceeding the standard value. The water appears colorless, transparent, slightly salty, and odorless, but has a slimy, viscous consistency. It's not sticky, but dries quickly and leaves a refreshing, moisturizing sensation, making it the quintessential "hot, skin-beautifying spring." Since there's an abundance of hot spring water at the right temperature, the water is simply poured directly from the source. The medicinal bath also contains chili peppers, which appear to have a great heat-retaining effect. The facility also has a tatami-mat resting room, which is free to use for up to 30 minutes and also serves as a snack bar. The parking lot along the main road is a bit narrow and dangerous due to the heavy traffic, so it may be safer to go around and use the parking lot at the back. Overall, I thought it was a locally based bathhouse where you could enjoy quality spring water and medicinal baths at a relatively low price, and that it was a hot spring for connoisseurs, with a slightly retro, rustic atmosphere.

This hot spring♨️drive🚙 is... one of Kyushu's 88 hot springs, located on the edge of Hita City, Oita Prefecture! Located on Route 210, next to the Yoake Ohashi Bridge, on the border with Fukuoka Prefecture, this hot spring♨️✨ is [Gensen-ya]☺️ Originally a medicinal bath facility founded around 1978, It later discovered hot springs and operated as [Yoake Yakuyu Onsen] around 1984💡 In 2022, the owner changed, and it underwent partial renovations and a name change😄 No loud enka music either, lol The lobby and rest area are stylish❤️ Entry is 650 yen, and shoes can be stored in the shoe rack behind the reception desk. Lockers are 100 yen. There are only baskets in the changing room💨 The large public bath is indoors only. A large rock separates the men's and women's baths, plus a waterfall bath and medicinal baths. Hot spring water (with floating bags of medicinal herbs) ♨️ The water is abundant and flows directly from the source ⤴️ You can drink the water, and it's just the right temperature, not too hot 🌡️ It's colorless and transparent with a slight salty taste. It's smooth and has a subtle foamy consistency 🎵 It's not too alkaline, with a pH of 7.9, but it's thick and creamy 👍 Body soap and rinse-in shampoo are provided 👌 By the way...the large bath plays jazz, not enka 😆💨 Private baths (4 rooms in total) are available for 1,300 or 1,500 yen (50 minutes). 💦 The tatami-floored resting room where you can lie down after your bath is also great 🎶 Natural? They also offer enzyme drinks and other drinks. 💡 The staff are all polite, and although the facility is old, it's clean and tidy. ✨ There's a decent amount of parking available. 🅿️🚙 It might be a little difficult to park along the highway. 💦 ※Repeat visit → John Mori, a famous place? I didn't see the attendant this time either. 😅 July 30, 2025 January 25, 2026

December 27, 2025: First Bath This is also one of the 88 hot springs in Kyushu. (This marks my 62nd stamp.) A two-day, one-night trip to Beppu's hot springs. After enjoying three baths today, I was feeling like I'd had enough, right? On my way back to Hakata, I stopped off in Hita and headed to my fourth bath. The hot spring used to be called Yoake Onsen, and it was known as "Medicinal Hot Spring." I'd passed it several times. I was hesitant to visit, in part because of reviews that said it had a unique atmosphere with enka music playing. However, my wife mentioned in her travel guide that "it looks like the name has changed," so I decided to take the opportunity to check it out. While the building's unique atmosphere remains, the receptionist was very kind and I felt at ease. The bathing fee, including the bathing tax, was a reasonable 650 yen. Perhaps the price is because there's no open-air bath. With a pH of 7.9, it's not particularly alkaline, but it's thick and foamy. I'd been soaking in hot Beppu baths all day, so I chose a lower temperature and took my time. (Note: Since this was my fourth bath, I decided to skip the hotter and medicinal baths.) To me, it felt like the water at Enmeikan in Haratsuru Onsen, but with a slightly warmer temperature. Shampoo and body soap are provided, so as long as you bring a towel, it's a great place to stop by.

This hot spring is located near the prefectural border along National Route 210. This hot spring naturally bubbles up from 1,500 meters underground, which is rare even in Oita, the hot spring prefecture. In addition to the large public bath, there is also a family bath. The water is even slippery, with a pH value of 7.8, which suggests it's even slippery. The hot spring water from the spout is also drinkable. I always drink two or three cups of it because my bowel movements improve the day after drinking the water. As the name suggests, there is also a medicinal bath, and although it has a bit of a strong smell, I always soak in it as it seems to be very effective. In the changing rooms, hair dryers, which previously required a fee, are now available for free rental, and the air conditioning is strong and there is a large fan, so you can feel refreshed after your bath without breaking a sweat. There is also a service where you can take a photo with the owner (?) on each day of the week, and once you have collected all the photos, you will receive one free bath.

I went back in February, a month after my last visit. Although it's located in Hita City, it's closer to Asakura and Ukiha in Fukuoka Prefecture! Parking along the road is a little tricky, but you can find one if you want. As the previous name of the bathhouse suggests, the medicinal bath has a strong herbal scent and is warmer than the hot springs. It's a dark brown color, so both body and mind gradually become warmer. It felt amazing! (^.^) The spring water here is drinkable from the source, so you can bring your own bottle and drink up to 200ml a day. Of course, my temperature was about 38.5 degrees, but it had a slightly salty, unique taste! The original hot spring is also known as beauty skin water, so it leaves your skin feeling smooth, and looking at the hot spring chart, I think the pH was 7.8? So alternating between the two baths is so pleasant I'm sure I'll be a repeat customer.