Shimane has many attractive day-trip hot springs!

Shimane Prefecture has long been known as the "Land of the Gods," and its hot springs, which gush forth from its land, are highly regarded nationwide. Tamatsukuri Onsen is famous as one of Japan's oldest hot springs, appearing in Nara period texts, and Yunokawa Onsen is counted as one of the "Three Beauties Hot Springs of Japan." The characteristic of Shimane's hot springs is the rich diversity of their spring quality. From alkaline hot springs that are excellent for beautiful skin to chloride springs perfect for relieving fatigue, and even rare natural carbonated springs, you can enjoy unique hot waters in each area. Many facilities are committed to free-flowing spring water, creating an environment where you can enjoy authentic hot springs. There are also many facilities conveniently located for a stop on the way back from visiting Izumo Taisha Shrine or while touring Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine, so it's recommended to include hot spring time in your Shimane travel schedule. Many facilities also have dining areas serving local ingredients, making enjoying local gourmet food along with the hot springs a major appeal of Shimane's day-trip hot springs.

9 Recommended Day Trip Hot Springs in Shimane

Kashima Taku-no-Yu

Kashima Taku-no-Yu, a day-trip hot spring facility near Lake Shinji in Kashima-cho, Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture, offers a spectacular view of the mountains of Mt. Asahi to the west and Mt. Taihei to the east while you bathe. The spring quality is sodium-chloride and sulfate spring, and the salt contained in the water protects the skin, earning it the nickname "heat spring" for its characteristic of keeping the body warm for a long time. In addition to a rich lineup including cypress baths, rock baths, open-air baths, saunas, and cold baths, it also has family baths (by reservation), making it ideal for couples and families. The thorough barrier-free structure, allowing anyone to use it with peace of mind, is also a welcome point. The facility also has a shop selling local specialties and the "Taku Shokudo" restaurant, which is committed to local ingredients, allowing visitors to enjoy both hot springs and gourmet food. Access from tourist bases in Matsue City is also good, making it a must-visit when traveling to Shimane.

Shiki no Yado Sahimeno (Sanbe Onsen)

Located at the foot of the magnificent Mt. Sanbe in Oda City, Shimane Prefecture, "Shiki no Yado Sahimeno" is a popular spot that, despite being an accommodation facility, also offers day-trip hot springs. The Sanbe Onsen water is a sodium chloride spring with a smooth quality that gently blends into the skin at a temperature of 37.9℃. It is also recognized for its efficacy against chronic rheumatoid arthritis, neuralgia, and chronic skin diseases. You can spend a blissful time relaxing in the spacious bath. The bathhouse is fully equipped with amenities such as shampoo, body soap, and horse oil cosmetics, so you can visit empty-handed. The open atmosphere that blends with the nature of Mt. Sanbe is charming, perfect for relaxing and recuperating after outdoor activities or sightseeing. The free parking lot is spacious, with room for 70 cars, ensuring peace of mind for families and groups. It is a luxurious facility where you can enjoy both Shimane's grand nature and authentic hot springs at the same time.

Taki Ichijiku Onsen

Taki Ichijiku Onsen, located in Taki-cho, Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture, is a hot spring rich in minerals that has matured for 500 years at a depth of 1,300m underground. It is a unique facility where you can enjoy two different hot springs for men and women on alternating days. The spring quality includes sodium-calcium-chloride-sulfate springs. All baths, except for the "medicinal herb bath" made from dried fig leaves, are free-flowing direct from the source, making it an authentic experience. The fig medicinal herb bath, a specialty of Taki-cho, is a rare experience that can only be enjoyed at this hot spring. Nearby are Kirara Beach and Kirara Cottage, making it conveniently located for a casual stop after outdoor leisure activities such as swimming. It offers the perfect environment to cleanse and refresh your body during a drive along the Sea of Japan. Be sure to extend your trip there when sightseeing in Izumo.

Public Bath Motoyu Urujin-no-Yu (Izumo Yumura Onsen)

Izumo Yumura Onsen, located in the middle reaches of the Hii River surrounded by the lush green Chugoku Mountains, is home to the "Public Bath Motoyu Urujin-no-Yu." This central hot spring boasts a history of over 1,300 years, described in the Izumo Fudoki as "the medicinal spring by the Urujin River." In a charming wooden bathhouse, you can enjoy 100% genuine free-flowing spring water of a simple alkaline hot spring, with no heating, cooling, or circulation whatsoever. The smooth, mild, and high-quality water is gentle on the skin and deeply relieves fatigue. In addition to indoor and open-air baths, there are also family baths (private open-air baths) and footbaths, accommodating everything from solo travelers to families. It's also great that it's open year-round, including during the New Year holidays. This day-trip hot spring in Shimane is especially recommended for those who want to fully experience the rustic charm of a mountain hot spring.

Tamatsukuri Onsen Yuuyu

Tamatsukuri Onsen, one of Japan's oldest famous hot springs mentioned in Nara-period texts. "Tamatsukuri Onsen Yuuyu" is the only day-trip hot spring facility located almost in the center of its hot spring town. The innovative exterior, designed by Shimane-born architect Shin Takamatsu and inspired by a magatama (comma-shaped bead), leaves an unforgettable impression. The large public bath on the 5th floor (top floor) is equipped with magatama-shaped tubs, open-air baths, cascade baths, and mist & dry saunas. The simple alkaline hot spring, highly effective for beautiful skin, is also known as "natural lotion" and is very popular, especially among women. Morning bath hours are also available on Sundays, Golden Week, Obon, and New Year holidays. A massage corner can be used in the relaxation room on the 4th floor. The shop on the 1st floor offers local specialties and seasonal vegetables, making souvenir shopping enjoyable. When sightseeing in the Matsue and Izumo areas, be sure to visit.

Yunotsu Onsen Yakushiyu

Yunotsu Onsen (Yunotsu Hot Spring), a famous hot spring in Iwami and part of the UNESCO World Heritage site "Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and its Cultural Landscape." Its central presence is "Yakushiyu." It is the only genuine free-flowing hot spring in San'in to receive the highest "all 5" rating in all categories from the Japan Hot Spring Association's natural hot spring evaluation. You can experience a truly "raw hot spring" where the spring water (approx. 46℃) that naturally gushes from 2-3m underground directly behind the facility is poured into the tubs without any modifications. The Taisho era wooden building, standing within the charming townscape of Yunotsu with its Edo period streetscapes, is also appealing. After bathing, you can enjoy a complimentary coffee on the 2nd-floor lounge or the 3rd-floor rooftop garden terrace while taking in the magnificent view. It's a must-visit, authentic day-trip hot spring in Shimane, perfect to combine with sightseeing at Iwami Ginzan.

Izumo Enmusubi Onsen Yurari

"Izumo Enmusubi Onsen Yurari," located in Hirata-cho, Izumo City, close to Izumo Taisha Shrine, known for its deity of matchmaking, is a popular day-trip hot spring spot among locals. It offers 100% natural hot spring water, rich in volume and flowing directly from the source, without any added water or heating. The spacious and open facility, said to be one of the largest in the Chugoku region, features a variety of baths including a large open-air bath, indoor baths, barrel baths, jar baths, and family baths, as well as an infrared sauna. The spring quality is a simple alkaline hot spring, gentle on the skin, making it safe for children and the elderly. In addition to a well-stocked souvenir shop featuring products mainly from Izumo, the restaurant "Isshikitei," where you can savor the seasonal flavors of Izumo in exquisite dishes, is also popular (closed Tuesdays). It is an ideal day-trip hot spring facility in Shimane and Izumo, perfect for a combined plan with a visit to Izumo Taisha Shrine.

Shittori Tsuru-tsuru Kitayama Onsen

Shittori Tsuru-tsuru Kitayama Onsen, located in an excellent spot about 8 minutes by car from Izumo Taisha Shrine, is a popular day-trip hot spring facility where you can bathe while enjoying the spectacular views of the Kitayama mountain range, which appears in Izumo mythology. Renovated and reopened in 2016, it introduced Shimane Prefecture's first artificial high-concentration carbonated open-air bath. With a rich variety of baths including jet baths, saunas, and cascade baths, you can enjoy new experiences with each visit. The water is a hypotonic alkaline simple hot spring, and it is reputed to leave the skin feeling smooth and moisturized after bathing. It also has private bathrooms for those requiring care or with disabilities, demonstrating a full commitment to accessibility. The on-site restaurant offers a full menu, including Shimane Wagyu Teppan-zen. It is an ideal day-trip hot spring spot in Shimane and Izumo for concluding your visit to Izumo Taisha or refreshing yourself during your trip.

Izumo Ekimae Onsen Lamp-no-Yu

Izumo Ekimae Onsen Lamp-no-Yu, boasting excellent accessibility just a 1-minute walk from JR Izumo City Station South Exit, is a convenient day-trip hot spring facility for those traveling by train. The high-quality natural hot spring water, drawn from a spring source 1,800m underground, is a cloudy bath rich in iron, and all baths are free-flowing, ensuring constantly fresh water. The spring quality is an iron-rich calcium/sodium chloride spring. It boasts abundant efficacy, said to be effective for recovery from fatigue and neuralgia. Amidst the tranquil atmosphere created by the scent of cypress and the glow of lamps, a relaxing space unfolds where you can unwind while gazing at a bamboo grove. It's perfect as a starting point for sightseeing in Izumo Taisha or for a short rest on the way back. It's a spot widely loved by both tourists and local regulars. When traveling to the Shimane/Izumo area, why not stop by before checking into your accommodation or for an evening bath?

Enjoy Shimane's popular day-trip hot springs!

We've introduced 9 unique day-trip hot springs scattered throughout various areas of Shimane Prefecture, including Izumo, Matsue, Oda, and Unnan. From Tamatsukuri Onsen and Yunokawa Onsen, known as two of Japan's three beautiful skin hot springs, to Yunotsu Onsen Yakushiyu, which received all 5s from the Japan Hot Spring Association, and the historic Izumo Yumura Onsen, all of Shimane's hot springs have irresistible charms. You'll surely want to visit Shimane again and again, thinking, "This time, this hot spring; next time, that one." Combining your visit with tourist attractions like Izumo Taisha Shrine and Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine will undoubtedly enrich your Shimane trip even further. Enjoy Shimane's famous hot springs at your leisure, along with the changing natural scenery of the seasons. Create unforgettable travel memories by refreshing your mind and body at Shimane's day-trip hot springs, which boast various faces—hot springs for beautiful skin, mythical hot springs, and World Heritage hot springs. You're sure to find your favorite hot spring in Shimane.