7 Recommended Day Trip Onsens in Gifu! From Natural Hot Springs to Private Open-Air Baths
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Gifu boasts many charming day-trip hot springs!
Day-trip hot springs in Gifu Prefecture offer a healing space surrounded by abundant nature. You can enjoy free-flowing hot spring water and various types of spring water, effective for beautiful skin and recovery from fatigue. From open-air baths, you can admire the beautiful scenery of the four seasons, with snow-viewing baths being particularly popular in winter. The facilities are well-equipped, including saunas, bedrock baths, and restaurants. There is a wide range of options, from easily accessible locations to hidden hot springs. In addition to hot springs, there are plenty of other enjoyable activities such as strolling through hot spring towns and visiting footbaths. Gifu's hot springs are a luxurious day-trip destination where you can refresh your mind and body while enjoying the charm of the region.
7 Recommended Day Trip Hot Springs in Gifu
"Toki Yorimichi Onsen" with a superb open-air bath offering panoramic views of Tono
Provided by: Nifty Onsen
Toki Yorimichi Onsen is a day-trip hot spring facility in Toki City, Gifu Prefecture, featuring an open-air bath with superb views. Located on a hill, its two areas, "Mori no Yu" (Forest Bath) and "Sora no Yu" (Sky Bath), offer views of the Tono region's cityscape and Mount Ontake, allowing visitors to enjoy beautiful scenery throughout the seasons. The hot spring water is an alkaline simple hot spring, renowned for its "beautiful skin" properties. The facility has 7 types of open-air baths and 7 types of indoor baths, with the **"Super Carbonated Spring," which dissolves carbon dioxide gas into natural hot spring water**, being particularly popular. Additionally, it offers a wide range of bathing facilities, including bedrock baths and löyly saunas. It's also easily accessible, about a 3-minute drive from Toki Premium Outlets, making it ideal for combining shopping and hot springs. Enjoy a luxurious relaxing time with superb views and beautiful skin-enhancing hot spring water.
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 4-5-3 Tokigaoka, Toki City, Gifu Prefecture (within Terrace Gate Toki) |
| Access | Right at the exit of Toki-Minami-Tajimi IC on the Tokai-Kanjo Expressway, 15 minutes by car from JR Tajimi Station |
| Parking | 550 spaces (free) *within Terrace Gate Toki |
| Opening Hours | 9:00～23:00 (Last entry 22:00) |
| Fees | – |
"Gandatekyo Himeshaga no Yu," a hidden hot spring where you can enjoy both valley beauty and hot springs
Provided by: Nifty Onsen
Gandatekyo Himeshaga no Yu is a secluded hot spring located in Osakacho, Gero City, Gifu Prefecture, where you can enjoy natural high-concentration carbonated spring water. Its charm lies in its carbonated spring, which is a rare free-flowing hot spring nationwide. In the open-air bath, the water initially feels cold but gradually warms you to the core, providing a unique bathing experience. Following its renovation on June 1, 2024, a Finnish-style pellet sauna has been newly installed, further enhancing the experience. At the drinking spring facility inside, you can directly taste the fizzy carbonated spring water. The surrounding area includes "Gandate Park," a base for touring the waterfalls of Osako, making it ideal for a sightseeing plan combining hot springs and nature walks. A shuttle bus service to and from Hida-Osaka Station is also available, making access convenient. It operates only on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays (10:30-21:00), so it is recommended to check in advance when visiting.
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 1656 Ochiai, Osakacho, Gero City, Gifu Prefecture 509-3111 |
| Access | Approximately 15 minutes by taxi from JR Takayama Main Line Hida-Osaka Station. Approximately 1 hour 40 minutes from Tokai-Kanjo Expressway Tomika IC, approximately 1 hour 40 minutes from Chuo Expressway Nakatsugawa IC, approximately 60 minutes from Chubu Jukan Expressway Takayama IC |
| Parking | Available (100 spaces) |
| Opening Hours | From June 1, 2024, open only on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays. 10:30～21:00 |
| Fees | Adults (junior high school students and older) 900 yen, elementary school students 500 yen, preschoolers free |
"Funsenchi," an artistic hot spring created by nature
Provided by: Nifty Onsen
Gero Onsen Funsenchi is a renowned spot on the banks of the Hida River, known as an artistic hot spring created by nature. Established in 1983, it has been cherished as a place where visitors can enjoy free-flowing hot spring water for free. The spacious bath, approximately 15x12 meters, offers views of the seasonal scenery, with the winter snowscape being particularly enchanting. Although it features an open structure, swimwear became mandatory in 2010, and since December 2021, it has been exclusively for footbaths. Currently, city officials and hot spring enthusiasts regularly patrol to maintain a comfortable environment. It is a beloved spot for tourists and locals alike as a convenient attraction to easily experience the charm of Gero Onsen. When visiting, please be mindful of your surroundings and adhere to etiquette while enjoying the hot spring.
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Koda, Gero City, Gifu Prefecture |
| Access | 3 minutes walk from JR Takayama Main Line Gero Station |
| Parking | City parking lot for 70 cars |
| Opening Hours | 24 hours (unavailable during cleaning) *Cleaning time: 7 AM to 8 AM |
| Fees | Free |
"Hirayu no Yu, Hirayu Folk Museum," a hot spring experience that immerses you in Hida's history and culture
Provided by: Nifty Onsen
The Hirayu Folk Museum is a valuable spot in the Hirayu Onsenkyo area of Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture, where visitors can enjoy both history and hot springs. You can freely explore the "Old Takakuwa Residence," a gassho-zukuri style house relocated over 40 years ago, and the "Old Toyosaka Residence," a cultural property of Takayama City, and experience Hida's traditional culture through displays of irori hearths and farming tools. The adjacent "Hirayu no Yu" is a day-trip hot spring available for a small donation (around 300 yen), featuring a reddish-brown "nukutomari-yu" (warming bath). The open-air bath offers seasonal mountain views, and at night, the illuminated scene creates a magical atmosphere. Furthermore, the grounds include the Shinohara Muzen Memorial Museum and Hirayu Shrine, making it a hidden gem where you can enjoy both hot springs and cultural property tours at once. This destination is recommended for those who wish to experience Hida's history while healing body and mind in a hot spring.
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 29 Hirayu Onsenkyo, Okuhida, Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture |
| Access | Approximately 60 minutes by Nohi Bus from JR Takayama Station towards Shinhotaka Onsen, then a 3-minute walk from Hirayu Onsen bus stop |
| Parking | 8 spaces (free) |
| Opening Hours | Summer: 06:00～21:00, Winter: 08:00～21:00 |
| Fees | Bath fee: Small donation (around 300 yen) |
"Nigorigo Onsen Municipal Open-Air Bath," an open-air bath offering a superb sense of freedom surrounded by nature
Provided by: Nifty Onsen
The Nigorigo Onsen Municipal Open-Air Bath is a secluded hot spring located at an altitude of 1,800m, surrounded by magnificent nature. It features a vast open-air bath enveloped by primeval forests, offering a refreshing bathing experience. The hot spring water is a sodium-calcium bicarbonate-sulfate spring, effective for relieving neuralgia and muscle pain. Furthermore, the free-flowing reddish-brown hot spring water gently warms the body. Bathing while admiring the superb views of Mount Ontake is exceptional and popular among climbers and those undergoing high-altitude training. It operates from late April to early November (subject to change due to weather), and is available at reasonable prices: 600 yen for adults and 300 yen for elementary school students. However, precautions against horseflies are necessary in summer, and cold weather protection is also essential due to the high altitude. This superb open-air bath is recommended for those who want to experience an authentic hot spring in nature.
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Ochiai, Osakacho, Gero City, Gifu Prefecture |
| Access | 1 hour 20 minutes by Nohi Bus from JR Takayama Main Line Hida-Osaka Station to Nigorigo Onsen, then immediately from the last stop |
| Parking | 30 spaces (free) |
| Opening Hours | April-July & September-November: 10:00-17:30 (Last reception 17:00), August: 10:00-18:30 (Last reception 18:00) |
| Fees | Adults 600 yen, elementary school students 300 yen |
"Yudokoro Minori," refresh your mind and body with 12 types of baths
Provided by: Nifty Onsen
Yudokoro Minori is a day-trip hot spring facility in Ginan Town, Hashima District, Gifu Prefecture, offering a variety of hot springs and excellent facilities. You can enjoy 12 types of hot springs, including open-air and indoor baths. It features baths with various benefits, such as **"Ikeda Yuge Onsen" for beautiful skin, "Carbonated Spring" for improved circulation, and "Biryu-sen" for massage effects.** Following its renovation in March 2022, four types of bedrock baths, including a "Music Löyly," have been newly added, making it even more attractive. Besides the hot springs, the facility is equipped with relaxing amenities such as a manga corner, reclining chairs, a restaurant, and aesthetic services. It boasts excellent accessibility, being about a 2-minute walk from Meitetsu Ginan Station. This spot is recommended for those who want to refresh their mind and body in a hot spring and healing environment.
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 2-60-1 Shimo-inshoku, Ginan Town, Hashima District, Gifu Prefecture |
| Access | Approximately 2 minutes walk from Meitetsu Ginan Station |
| Parking | Available (180 spaces) |
| Opening Hours | 6:00～24:00 (Last entry 23:00), Bedrock bath 9:00～23:00 |
| Fees | Admission fee: Weekdays Adults 750 yen, Weekends/Holidays Adults 850 yen |
"Nukui Onsen," relax in a natural hot spring with excellent skin-beautifying effects
Provided by: Nifty Onsen
Nukui Onsen is a natural hot spring in Motosu City, Gifu Prefecture, with excellent skin-beautifying effects. The water quality is sodium-bicarbonate chloride spring (hypotonic weak alkaline low temperature hot spring), characterized by its soft water with a pH of 9.0. It is gentle on the skin and known as a "beautiful skin hot spring." The facility features six types of baths, including a silk bath, seasonal baths, and open-air baths, offering a variety of bathing experiences. Additionally, four types of bedrock baths are available at no extra charge. You can thoroughly sweat in bedrock baths with different benefits, such as black germanium and tourmaline. After the bath, you can relax in the spacious休息 space or the manga and internet corner. It is conveniently located a 1-minute walk from Aeon Town Motosu, making it a convenient day-trip hot spring for combining shopping and hot springs.
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 1953 Mashita, Shimonishiura, Motosu City, Gifu Prefecture |
| Access | Approximately 40 minutes by Gifu Bus "Shinho Oganawa Line" or "Ono Chushou Line" from Meitetsu Gifu Station (1 minute walk from "Aeon Town Motosu" bus stop) Approximately 5 minutes from Tokai-Kanjo Expressway Ono-Koube Interchange Approximately 30 minutes from Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway Kakamigahara Interchange |
| Parking | Aeon Town parking lot 859 spaces, free |
| Opening Hours | Bath area 10:00～23:00 (Last entry 22:30) |
| Fees | – |
Enjoy Gifu's popular day-trip hot springs!
Gifu Prefecture is a region blessed with rich nature and diverse hot springs. The seven day-trip hot springs introduced in this article each have their own unique characteristics, offering healing and enjoyment to visitors. From facilities where you can fully enjoy the benefits of natural hot springs to luxurious private open-air baths, there is a wide range of hot spring facilities to meet various needs. All of these places are ideal for healing a tired body and refreshing the mind. Exploring Gifu's hot springs can be enjoyed with the beautiful scenery of the four seasons, making your travel memories even richer. We invite you to visit these day-trip hot springs and experience Gifu's unique hot spring culture. A wonderful time of physical and mental healing surely awaits you.