恐山温泉 古滝の湯(男女日替り)

(Visited in September 2022) We went there last after visiting Mount Osore. I went with my family, and they were tired from walking at first, so they weren't really keen (we've come all this way, so let's purify ourselves before we go home!), but we ended up going in and I'm very happy. It's a simple wooden hut, and as soon as you open the door, you can see the changing room and the bath. There is no curtain at the entrance, so I think it's best to open it little by little after calling out in advance. (When we were in there, the people who came later left the door open and told their friends outside what was going on inside, so it was a bit annoying that it was left open during that time...) There is no washing area, and the style is to pour hot water over yourself, and there are two baths from which the hot spring water is drawn. The amount of water was plentiful and honestly quite hot (it felt like it was about 43°C), but we managed to get in without adding any water. Once you get in, your body feels very warm. It seems to be an old hot spring resort, so I think it's important to be considerate and respectful. I'd love to visit again if I get the chance.

Opening the sliding door of the hut takes you straight to the changing room. I take off my clothes while praying that no one opens the door while I'm completely naked. There are no showers, running water, soap, shampoo, changing room baskets, or lockers. There's no foot mat or anything like that. There's no attendant there, either. It's really just a hot spring where you quickly undress and dip in the water, so it's a mistake to go there thinking it's just a way to "clean your body." The sulfur spring left my skin smooth and silky. My body, tired from sightseeing, was totally rejuvenated. If you've paid the mountain entrance fee, there's no additional cost, so it's a good deal. If you come to Osorezan, be sure to give it a try. It's a rare experience.

It was a hot, sulfur-rich hot spring! It's true that it's completely visible (lol), but we didn't have much time, so we just went for a quick dip. I think it would be quite difficult to see Mount Osore by bus from Shimokita Station and then go to the hot springs... In June 2025, my husband and I got a ride from a man who rented a car and we hit it off on the train, and we went around Mount Osore, keeping an eye on the return train. We walked slowly, soaked in the hot springs, and it was 1:30. Someone we talked to at the hot spring said that the taxi ride there cost 6,000 yen and we even got some change back. I never expected to be able to take time to bathe, so I'm grateful.

This hot spring bath is located on the grounds of Mount Osore Bodaiji Temple, one of Japan's three great sacred sites, on the Shimokita Peninsula, the northernmost tip of Honshu. There are four baths for men and women: Furutaki, Reinbuki, Yakushi, and Hanasome, and many people come to soak in the aroma of the super hot sulfur springs. It is a simple public bath with a changing room that doesn't look like a locker room, and no faucets!

When I went, the bathwater was just the right temperature. The changing room is certainly thrilling, but it's separated from the bath entrance by a visual barrier, so you probably won't be seen by someone of the opposite sex. The window was open for ventilation, so I closed it before bathing. The water was almost transparent, smelled of sulfur, and had a slight viscosity. It was a very cost-effective bath.