Kono Onsen

If you are looking for a traditional onsen this is the place to visit. The water has high mineral content it is piping hot and relaxing. Bring your phone or translation device if you have limited Japanese. There are lockers with keys attached to wristbands to store while you bathe. This knsen has a cafe upstairs and a rooftop de k from where to sit and relax after you bathe. If you are new to Japanese public bathing establishments please read the following: Bring a Yukata (lightweight robe) to walk back to where you are staying or clean clothes to change into. Bring at least 2 towels one to take into the bathing area an another that is kept on the bench or locker in the dressing area. Also bring something to tie your hair up with. Bring your own washing implements like body scrubber and shampoo and conditioner. One of the towels is to either scrub yourself before getting into the tub, to wet with cold water to put around your neck, or to sit on while cooling on the edge of the tub. Do not however put it into the tub. Enter the bathing area and proceed to the washing the body area. Sit on one of the stools provided. Clean yourself well. Put your hair up so it does not go into the bath by using a hair band or that handy towel you brought in. Use the basin provided to get hot water from the source or the tub and rinse yourself while crouching next to tub, not standing and not in the tub to acclimate yourself to the heat of the tub Go into tub and relax. Ease into it. It is piping hot. Take care not to over heat by resting while sitting in the edge or rinsing with the shower wand in the bathing area. Always remember to crouch or sit on the stool provided. Do not stand while doing this. Once you are done bathing use one of the basins to get water from the spring source and do a final rinse while crouching next to the tub. Using the source water as opposed to the shared tub water. Use the handy towel you brought in to take the first layer of water off before you enter the dressing area where you will finish drying. Once dried and dressed go upstairs to enjoy the cafe and/or the rooftop deck.

The great feeling I know from other towns from Edo period doesn't exist here. This is a simple provincial town that can be found everywhere in Japan. Nothing remembers of the old times, no memorials, no museum, no boat that was used at the time silver was transported from here. Don't see how this can be a world heritage site. When I checked prices for Ryokan (traditional hotels) on international and Japanese sites, they asked for over $400 a night. Definitely not worth it. The town is old in a negative sense, not taken care of at all. Very clearly a no go suggestion from me. The Japanese reviews talk about the great onsen experience. There is an Onsen in Sanbesan area that I recommend. It is only ¥500 to use

This was an amazing onsen, I had low expectations as the pictures don't really do it justice but the atmosphere was great and the water was really hot. It's great for me as someone with a lot of tattoos as well. The elderly Japanese men were super friendly and really welcoming. They showed us what we needed to do when we walked in and were having a good laugh with us when we tried out the hottest bath. Super friendly place and definitely worth a visit. Also if you do go, try and make it on a Saturday as there is a showing of a traditional Japanese play in the temple just down the road.

Its an beautiful old Onsen and not that big. It has 3 different pools. But be careful it is really hot. The hottest is up to 49°. We loved it. The water was amazing. We enjoyed it very much. Maybe you need to know that there are no shower spots, so you have to wash yourself next to the pool. Had a nice long conversation with the locals. But there are only Japanese speaking person.

Quite possibly the most authentic Japanese hot springs I have ever been too. Three baths available to use, all with their unique temperature. From ” Ummm that is nice ” to “yeah this Is hot”and finally ”are you trying to kill me.” Locals super friendly, I was a bit confused because of the lack of taps to wash up with.