11 Recommended Day Trip Hot Springs in Shiga! From Natural Hot Springs to Private Open-Air Baths
Shiga Has Many Charming Day Trip Hot Springs!
Shiga Prefecture's day trip hot springs offer many attractive spots where you can enjoy bathing while admiring the magnificent views of Lake Biwa. Many of them have alkaline water, which is known for its skin-beautifying effects. Additionally, many facilities offer local cuisine, allowing you to enjoy both hot springs and food. With many facilities boasting open-air baths surrounded by rich nature, as well as saunas and bedrock baths, you can truly relax both physically and mentally. The variety of options, from historic hot spring towns to facilities with the latest amenities, is another charm of Shiga Prefecture's day trip hot springs.
11 Recommended Day Trip Hot Springs in Shiga
"Kitanoe Resort Natural Hot Spring Kitanoe no Yu," an Open-Air Bath with a Superb View of Lake Biwa
Provided by: Nifty Onsen
"Kitanoe Resort Natural Hot Spring Kitanoe no Yu" is a natural hot spring facility located in Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture. The hypotonic weak alkaline hot spring, which gushes from 1,500m underground, is known as "hot water for beautiful skin," with a gentle feel and excellent heat retention. The facility has a variety of baths, with a herb mist sauna and shape-up bath in the women's bath, and a high-temperature sauna and far-infrared sauna in the men's bath. There is also a restaurant and bakery, allowing visitors to enjoy hot springs and gourmet food all day long. This hot spring resort is perfect for those seeking relaxation and skin-beautifying effects.
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 89 Karakawa, Takatsuki-cho, Nagahama-shi, Shiga |
| Access | 5 minutes by taxi from Takatsuki Station on the JR Hokuriku Main Line. 3km from Kinomoto IC on the Hokuriku Expressway towards Takatsuki on National Route 8. |
| Parking | 400 spaces (free) |
| Hours | – |
| Fees | – |
A Must-See for Sauna Lovers! Extensive Löyly Service at "Kusatsu Yumoto Suisyun"
Provided by: Nifty Onsen
"Kusatsu Yumoto Suisyun" is a popular bathing facility among sauna enthusiasts in Shiga Prefecture. It boasts three types of authentic saunas, and its extensive löyly service is particularly appealing. In the far-infrared sauna, in addition to automatic löyly every hour, staff perform a löyly service using large fans four times a day. Furthermore, the open-air bath area features a Chinese herbal salt sauna and a barrel sauna, where self-löyly is also possible. Löyly sessions are held throughout the day: for men's bath at 11:00, 15:00, 19:00, and 23:00, and for women's bath at 10:00, 14:00, 18:00, and 22:00. This bathing facility is ideal for those seeking a diverse sauna experience, allowing you to fully enjoy relaxation and perspiration.
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Sports & Leisure Building, Aeon Mall Kusatsu, 300 Shinhamacho, Kusatsu City, Shiga Prefecture |
| Access | 20 minutes by Omi Railway bus from JR Seta Station to Aeon Mall Kusatsu, get off at the last stop, 10 minutes walk. Or 15 minutes by free shuttle bus (for members only) |
| Parking | Available (free parking at Aeon Mall Kusatsu) |
| Hours | 9:00 AM - 1:00 AM (last admission 12:00 AM), bedrock bath area 9:00 AM - 12:30 AM (last admission 11:30 PM) |
| Fees | – |
A Healing Moment at the Foot of Mt. Hira: "Hira Shofuku Onsen Holiday Afternoon"
Provided by: Nifty Onsen
"Hira Shofuku Onsen Holiday Afternoon" is a free-flowing hot spring inn located in Kitahira, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture. Surrounded by rich nature, you can enjoy the cloudy hot water of bicarbonate spring, which has excellent skin-beautifying effects. The private family bath, available for 2 to 5 people, features a cypress-lined bathroom where you can enjoy the hot spring in a private space. In addition, you can enjoy Omi beef BBQ, a local specialty, and there is also a dog run where pets are welcome. A shuttle service from JR Omi-Maiko Station is also available, making access convenient. It is also an ideal spot to stop by after hiking in Mt. Hira or enjoying activities on Lake Biwa. It is a luxurious healing space where you can enjoy hot springs, gourmet food, and nature all at once.
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 948-10 Kitahira, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture |
| Access | Shuttle service from JR Omi-Maiko Station / 5 minutes from Hira exit via bypass from Kyoto-Higashi IC |
| Parking | Available, free, 20 spaces |
| Hours | 10 AM to 5 PM (last reception) |
| Fees | 3,300 yen (excluding bathing tax) |
Luxurious Hot Spring Experience at a Lakeside Hideaway: "Hamakogetsu"
Provided by: Nifty Onsen
"Nagahama Taiko Onsen Hamakogetsu" is a long-established hot spring ryotei (traditional Japanese restaurant with accommodation) that opened in the Meiji era, nestled on the shores of Lake Biwa. All rooms are Japanese-style with open-air baths, allowing guests to enjoy the magnificent views of Lake Biwa. The hot spring uses its own source, "Biwako Matsubara Onsen," characterized by its brownish-red water with high salinity. You can enjoy the distinctive metallic-smelling hot spring in the large public bath and open-air bath. The cuisine is highly acclaimed, featuring Kyoto-style kaiseki dishes made with Omi beef and seasonal ingredients, allowing guests to savor the flavors of each season. Furthermore, the attentive service, which values the "spirit of hospitality" since its establishment, is also a major attraction. With convenient access, only a 10-minute walk from JR Nagahama Station, and close to tourist attractions such as Nagahama Castle and Kurokabe Square, it is a popular hidden gem for couples and families seeking to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Lake Biwa, high-quality hot springs, and gourmet food.
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 4-25 Koencho, Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture 526-0065 |
| Access | 10-minute walk from JR Nagahama Station, approx. 15 minutes from Nagahama IC on Hokuriku Expressway |
| Parking | Available, 25 spaces, Free |
| Hours | 11:00 AM - 2:30 PM, 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM |
| Fees | Adult (per person) 1,500 yen (including bathing tax), Elementary school student 750 yen, Infant (1 year old to pre-school) 500 yen *Includes bath towel and face towel |
An Adult Retreat to Enjoy Gourmet Food and Hot Springs: "Beniayu"
Provided by: Nifty Onsen
"Beniayu" is an adult hideaway hot spring ryokan nestled on the shores of Lake Okubiwako. It is a Japanese-style ryokan with all 15 rooms equipped with an open-air hot spring bath, allowing guests to enjoy the spectacular view of Lake Biwa all to themselves. The golden, soft water of Onoe Onsen (sodium bicarbonate spring) is highly effective for beautiful skin, and the beautiful scenery of Chikubu Island can be seen from the large public bath. The cuisine is also highly praised, offering Kyoto-style kaiseki dishes made with local ingredients such as Omi beef and ayu (sweetfish). Seasonal lake fish dishes can be enjoyed, such as biwa salmon in spring, ayu in summer, eel and duck in autumn, and wild duck in winter. Furthermore, a wide selection of local sake and Nagahama Roman Beer is available to complement the dishes. In a tranquil environment, it is a popular luxurious inn where guests can enjoy high-quality hot springs and exquisite cuisine along with the scenery of Lake Biwa.
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 312 Onoe, Kohoku-cho, Nagahama-shi, Shiga |
| Access | Get off at Takatsuki Station on the JR Hokuriku Main Line. 10 minutes by taxi |
| Parking | 20 spaces (free) |
| Hours | – |
| Fees | – |
Refresh Your Mind and Body in a Quiet Mountain Village: "Anegawa Onsen"
Provided by: Nifty Onsen
"Anegawa Onsen" is a day-trip hot spring facility nestled in a quiet mountain village in Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture. It features a variety of baths utilizing natural hot spring water, including open-air baths where you can enjoy carbonated baths and "Sosei no Yu" (Rebirth Bath) made with natural mineral stones. Inside the facility, in addition to indoor baths (long bath, carbonated bath, jacuzzi), there is also a ceramic plate bath where you can experience "healthy sweating." Furthermore, there is a restaurant serving homemade dishes using local ingredients, as well as resting spaces with personal sofas with TVs, and Japanese and Western-style rooms, allowing you to relax comfortably. Entry is only permitted for elementary school students and above, making it ideal for families in a calm atmosphere. Access is also good, approximately 15 minutes from Nagahama IC on the Hokuriku Expressway. It is a perfect spot for refreshing your mind and body, where you can fully enjoy hot springs and relaxation.
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 181 Yashimacho, Nagahama City, Shiga |
| Access | Approximately 20 minutes by taxi from JR Nagahama Station (fare is approximately 3500 yen), approximately 15 minutes (approximately 5.5km) from Nagahama IC on the Hokuriku Expressway |
| Parking | 250 spaces, free |
| Hours | – |
| Fees | Adults 980 yen, elementary school students 495 yen |
Panoramic Open-Air Bath with a Superb View of Lake Biwa: "Spa Resort Ogoto Agariyans"
Provided by: Nifty Onsen
"Spa Resort Ogoto Agariyans" is a day-trip hot spring facility featuring an open-air bath with a spectacular view of Lake Biwa. It offers a wide range of bathing facilities using two types of its own hot springs, "Bihada no Yu" (Hot Spring for Beautiful Skin) and "Taiko no Fukkatsu" (Revival of Taiko), which gush within the premises. In the famous large open-air bath, you can experience an exquisite bath while gazing at the magnificent scenery of Lake Biwa. Furthermore, there are relaxing baths such as Shigaraki ware pot baths, reclining baths, and high-concentration carbonated spring baths. It also has a circulating bath with 8 types of jet massages, a high-temperature sauna with löyly service, and a women-only salt sauna. The facility also has a resting space and a kids' room, making it an ideal hot spring resort for families. It is a perfect spot for refreshing yourself, where you can enjoy the spectacular views of Lake Biwa and healing hot springs.
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 3-9-5 Noe, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture |
| Access | Approximately 5 minutes by bus from JR Ogoto Onsen Station and Hieizan Sakamoto Station (free shuttle bus), 5 minutes by car from Ogi Ogoto IC |
| Parking | Free parking available (300 spaces) |
| Hours | – |
| Fees | – |
Enjoy the Magnificent Scenery of the Suzuka Mountains and Famous Hot Springs at "Eigenji Onsen Happu no Yu"
Provided by: Nifty Onsen
"Eigenji Onsen Happu no Yu" is a hot spring facility rich in nature, nestled at the foot of the Suzuka Mountains in Higashiomi City, Shiga Prefecture. It boasts an open-air bath with a superb sense of openness overlooking the magnificent scenery of the Aichigawa River, and the spring quality is a hypotonic weak alkaline simple hot spring. It is also known as a **"hot spring for beautiful skin"** that makes your skin smooth. The facility includes gender-separated indoor baths "Han-seki no Yu" and "Koyo no Yu" (which switch daily), a medicinal bath using 6 types of herbs, relaxing pot baths and reclining baths, and even a bedrock bath "Raku-yu" where you can enjoy the synergistic effects of hot springs and herbs. You can spend a hot spring time that heals both mind and body while enjoying the scenery of the four seasons. Day-trip bathing is available, and there is also an accommodation facility "Happu Bekkan." In addition, the restaurant serving seasonal dishes made with fresh local ingredients is also popular. It is a perfect hot spring spot for those seeking healing and beautiful skin.
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 352 Takanomachi, Eigenji, Higashiomi City, Shiga Prefecture 527-0212 |
| Access | ・Approx. 40 minutes by free shuttle bus from JR Biwako Line Omihachiman Station South Exit ・By car: Approx. 15 minutes from Yokaichi IC on Meishin Expressway via National Route 421 towards Mie Prefecture |
| Parking | Available (90 spaces, free) |
| Hours | – |
| Fees | Adults (junior high school students and above): Weekdays 1,300 yen, Weekends/Holidays 1,700 yen Children (elementary school students and below): Weekdays 700 yen, Weekends/Holidays 800 yen Infants (under 3 years old): 200 yen |
A Famous Hot Spring Cultivated by 1200 Years of History: "Sugatani Onsen"
Provided by: Nifty Onsen
"Sugatani Onsen" is a historic famous hot spring nestled at the foot of Mt. Odani in Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture. It is a prestigious hot spring where many warlords, including Azai Nagamasa and Oichi, are said to have healed their wounds during the Sengoku period. The spring water is colorless and transparent, but it changes to reddish-brown when exposed to air, characteristic of hydro-carbonated iron spring (iron-sodium-chloride spring). It is expected to be effective for neuralgia, muscle pain, sensitivity to cold, gastrointestinal diseases, atopy, and fatigue recovery. The facility has large public baths, open-air baths "Nagamasa no Yu" and "Oichi no Yu," and rooms with semi-open-air baths are also available. Day-trip bathing is available from 11:00 to 15:00 (weekends and holidays may be crowded). Shuttle service from JR Kawage Station is available (approx. 6 minutes), and it is approx. 20 minutes by car from Nagahama Interchange, making access convenient. As the first hot spring facility in Shiga Prefecture to adopt the "free-flowing" method, you can enjoy a moment of healing in a quiet space surrounded by nature, feeling the history of the Sengoku period.
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 36 Sugatanicho, Nagahama City, Shiga |
| Access | Free shuttle service available from JR Hokuriku Main Line Kawage Station (reservation required), approx. 20 minutes from Nagahama IC on Hokuriku Expressway via National Route 365 |
| Parking | Available (50 spaces, free) |
| Hours | 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM (bathing until 4:00 PM) |
| Fees | Adults 1,000 yen, Children (1 year old and above) 500 yen |
"Kutsuki Onsen Tenku," an Open-Air Bath with a Superb View of the Starry Sky
Provided by: Nifty Onsen
"Kutsuki Onsen Tenku" is a day-trip hot spring facility rich in nature, located in Kutsuki, Takashima City, Shiga Prefecture. It boasts abundant alkaline simple hot spring water, which is gentle on the skin and has a smooth texture. From the open-air bath, you can enjoy the magnificent scenery of the Kutsuki mountains during the day and a sky full of stars at night, providing a truly healing experience. The facility has various baths, including a large public bath, a wooden bath, a stone bath, and a reclining bath, as well as a high-temperature sauna and a mist sauna. Furthermore, the swimwear-allowed area has a heated pool and a children's pool with a slide, making it popular with families. Opening hours are 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM (last admission 8:30 PM), and the pool zone is open from mid-March to the end of September. It is loved by many as a spot where you can enjoy hot springs and pools while experiencing the nature and starry skies of each season.
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 341-3 Kutsuki Kashiwa, Takashima City, Shiga Prefecture 520-1415 |
| Access | From JR Adogawa Station, take the Kutsuki Line bus to "Kutsuki Gakko-mae", then a shuttle bus to Green Park Omoide no Mori for about 5 minutes. |
| Parking | 300 free parking spaces available |
| Hours | Bath zone: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM (last reception 8:30 PM), Pool zone: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM |
| Fees | Adults 750 yen, 3 years old to elementary school student 350 yen (full facility use is adults 1350 yen, 3 years old to elementary school student 700 yen) |
Enjoy the Skin-Beautifying Hot Spring in the Firefly Village: "Moriyama Natural Hot Spring Hotaru no Yu"
Provided by: Nifty Onsen
"Moriyama Natural Hot Spring Hotaru no Yu" is an authentic day-trip hot spring facility located in Moriyama City, Shiga Prefecture. The high-quality simple hot spring water, gushing from 1,300m underground, is known as "Bijin no Yu" (hot spring for beautiful women) due to its slippery and moist texture, and is expected to have skin-beautifying effects. The facility features a variety of baths, including indoor baths, open-air baths, and reclining baths, as well as a steam sauna with foot bath, steam salt sauna, and high-temperature sauna. Relaxation services are also extensive, offering body scrubs, Thai traditional massage, and oil treatments. At the dining area, you can enjoy Japanese cuisine centered around homemade 100% buckwheat soba. Furthermore, tatami resting rooms, recliner resting rooms, and women-only resting rooms are available, making it a comfortable place to spend your time. Firefly viewing is also possible in the vicinity during summer. It is a popular hot spring spot recommended for those who want to relax and unwind.
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 4-5-20 Yoshimi, Moriyama City, Shiga |
| Access | 15-minute walk from JR Biwako Line Moriyama Station, approx. 20 minutes from Meishin Expressway Ritto IC |
| Parking | Available (300 spaces, free) |
| Hours | – |
| Fees | [Weekdays] Adults (junior high school students and above) 960 yen, Children (elementary school students) 470 yen, Infants (3-5 years old) 250 yen, Under 2 years old free [Weekends/Holidays] Adults (junior high school students and above) 1,050 yen, Children (elementary school students) 520 yen, Infants (3-5 years old) 300 yen, Under 2 years old free |
Enjoy Shiga's Popular Day Trip Hot Springs!
Shiga Prefecture is a treasure trove of hot springs, blessed with the beautiful scenery of Lake Biwa and rich nature. The 11 day-trip hot springs introduced in this article each have their own unique characteristics, providing healing and refreshment to visitors. Whether you want to enjoy the benefits of natural hot springs or spend private time in a private open-air bath, Shiga's hot springs offer a variety of ways to enjoy them. Hot springs enjoyed with the scenery of the four seasons are ideal for refreshing your mind and body. Why not visit Shiga's day-trip hot springs to soothe your daily fatigue and gain new vitality? Please enjoy a blissful time at Shiga's hot springs, where you can fully savor its rich hot spring culture and the blessings of nature.