Shironoi Hot Spring

★If you're in Kikuchi, you have to go to Jonoi! ‼️ That's how I made my first visit★ I asked an acquaintance who lives in Kikuchi about a good hot spring, and he recommended Jonoi Onsen ♨️, so I dutifully went there for the first time on a weekday afternoon. The lady at the front desk even gave me a lesson on how to buy a ticket from the ticket machine, even though I was a beginner. Thank you very much💕 I brought my own towels and other items, so it was only a reasonable ¥300. Soap, shampoo, conditioner, and towels are available at the front desk for an additional fee, but most customers brought their own items. The women's bath has 30 lockable lockers (¥10 usage fee). Since it's winter, coats and other items can't fit in the lockers, so I put my valuables in the lockers. The lady at the front desk came all the way to the changing room to teach me to use the pink basket on the left for other items like towels and clothes, and I really appreciated her hospitality. The ladies who frequented the hot springs were also well-mannered, so I felt safe and secure. Even in the Reiwa era, it's a bargain at just ¥300, so I can't help but feel a bit uneasy about things like the dust on the bathroom ventilation fan, thinking, "Even though the fee is so low, it must be hard for only one lady to work the front desk." I visited the shrine, had lunch, bought some souvenirs, soaked in Jonoi Onsen, and enjoyed a bottled coffee milk before heading home. (These days, some places sell cartons instead of bottles, but here you can choose from bottled coffee milk, drinkable yogurt, and more, which is great💕) I decided on a whirlwind tour of Kikuchi Onsen, and I'm so glad I did. Thank you to all the ladies!💖 I'm so grateful. I'd like to visit the front desk ladies again, so next time I'll visit Jonoi Onsen, I'd like to try out the inn and family bath.

The annex of Ryokan Jonoi is open to the public as a public bath. Although there are no amenities like shampoo, using the inn's large public bath for 300 yen is still a bargain. The day-use facility is a simple indoor bath only. There are two bathtubs side by side, with a two-tiered cascade system where water overflowing from one is poured into the other. The water felt hotter around the outlet, about 43-44°C, while the water below was slightly warmer at about 42°C. It doesn't have a distinct scent, but it contains 0.6mg of hydrogen sulfide ions, and if you sniff carefully, you can definitely detect the presence of sulfur. Like neighboring Yamaga Onsen, the water is highly alkaline with a pH of over 9. It's not slippery, but it does have a very smooth feel. It's a simple hot spring, but its composition is similar to a sodium-carbonate/bicarbonate spring, and even though it has a refreshing bath, you can still feel the carbonation or warming effect. Combined with the hot water itself, everyone quickly gets out of the bath. [Hot Spring Basic Information] Spring Quality: Alkaline Simple Spring (Hypotonic, Alkaline, Hyperthermic) Spring Temperature: 50.3°C/43°C Mixed Spring pH: 9.5 Dissolved Substances: 0.3074g/kg Flow Rate: 155 L/min Flow Method: Power Pump Heating: None Water Addition: None Circulation: None Disinfection: None [Facility Basic Information] *As of November 2025 Bath Fee: 300 yen (cash only) Hours: 6:00 AM - 11:00 PM Shampoo, etc.: None Open-Air Bath: None Sauna: None Cold Bath: None Hair Dryer: None

You can enjoy the hot spring water and spring quality of Jonoi Onsen Ryokan on a day trip. Bathing begins at 6:00 AM. Previously, the price was 250 yen, but due to rising prices, it rose to 300 yen, and when I returned on New Year's Eve 2025, it was 350 yen. There are about eight washing areas, but they are close to each other, so it's best to leave some time between each. The indoor baths are lined with hot, medium-hot, and slightly warm waters. The water is slightly viscous, but lighter than Kikuka Onsen and Yamaga Onsen. There is only an indoor bath; there is no open-air bath. Shampoo and soap are not provided, so you must bring your own. Often used by locals, when it's crowded, they will shower themselves first before entering the indoor bath, or wait on a bench for a washing area to become available. I like to drink bottled milk after bathing.

For those who just want to enjoy the hot water. Please bring your own bathing equipment. It seems that hair dryers are available for loan at the reception after bathing. The facilities are a little old, but well-maintained. There is a plentiful supply of free-flowing hot water, which is hot and smooth. My skin felt soft and gentle without any tightness. At the traffic light just before the entrance to Kikuchi Shrine, turn onto the approach to the shrine, and if you drive carefully to the left, you will find a gravel parking lot. The entrance to the inn and that for day visitors are separate.

Alkaline simple hot spring, pH 9.5 6:00 AM - 11:00 PM, 400 yen Thick, hot water, colorless, and odorless. The design is simple, but the changing room is clean and spacious. (Lockers in the changing room cost 10 yen and are non-refundable.) Enjoying the luxurious sensation of hot spring water constantly overflowing from the bathtub, I thoroughly enjoyed the thick, velvety water. 😊 I'd love to return!