Kyushu: The Definitive Guide to One-Coin Onsen (Hot Springs)!

In these days of rising prices for everything, the 500-yen lunch is disappearing. At the very least, I want to enjoy my favorite hot springs without worrying about my wallet! Many people must think so.

In fact, Kyushu, a hot spring paradise, still has many "one-coin hot springs" that can be enjoyed for less than 500 yen. Due to popular demand, we have greatly increased the number of hot springs listed in this edition, and now bring you the definitive list!

women's travelThe hot spring water is a great source of beautiful skin that is great for the skin,familyWe offer a wide range of budget-friendly, high qualityOne-day Onsen/Stopover Hot SpringWe have carefully selected the following Even if your pocket is cold, your body and mind will be warm.
Please use this list as a list of famous and hidden hot springs that you will want to visit right away!

Nibiyama Onsen Momiji no Yu, Kanzaki-shi

Hot springs known only to those outside the city

This public facility is located facing the Johara River, near the famous autumn foliage spots "Kugenan" and the approach to "Nibiyama Shrine". It is operated by the Kanzaki-shi Council of Social Welfare, and was formerly the "House of Rest for the Elderly," which was renovated into the "Kanzaki-shi Rest House 'Nibiyama Onsen Maple Leaf Hot Spring'" about 10 years ago.

The bathroom is quite cozy, and if five people enter, the room is full. The view from the bathroom is nice, but there is no open-air bath. Since the main service was for local senior citizens, this should be overlooked in advance. It has a hole-in-the-wall feeling, and for that reason, depending on the time of day, you may be able to take your time and monopolize the bath. The temperature of the source is 19.8 degrees Celsius, making it a so-called "cold spring (cold mineral spring)," but it is classified as a "hot spring" according to its radon content. It is expected to be effective for neuralgia, joint pain, relief of fatigue, and sensitivity to cold. There is also a free footbath made of hinoki cypress inside the facility, where you can enjoy the view of the greenery of the mountains and clear streams. Visitors are free to bring their own food and beverages into the rest rooms.

Location	1724-1 Matoge, Kanzaki-cho, Kanzaki-shi, Saga
Phone number	0952-55-6267
Business Hours	10:00 - 21:00
closed day	Third Wednesday of the month (or the following day if the Wednesday is a national holiday)
fee for a public bath	（High school students and older: 500 yen, elementary and junior high school students: 200 yen, preschool children: free
spring quality	Simple weakly radioactive spring
Official Site	Nibiyama Onsen Momiji no Yu official website https://kanzaki-syakyo.com/pages/70/

Unzen City Kojigoku Onsenkan

Boasts a direct connection to the source and abundant hot water.

A public bathhouse located in Unzen Onsen, one of the best hot spring resorts in Nagasaki Prefecture. It was opened in 1731 as a therapeutic bathhouse, and boasts the largest amount of hot spring water in Unzen. The current Onsenkan building was constructed in 1993. The black discoloration on the wooden exterior is not due to age-related deterioration, but rather to the hot spring water.

The 63.5°C spring water boils from a private source just behind the onsen pavilion, and the water temperature is lowered to 40-43°C and poured into the bathtub. It is truly a hot spring directly from the source. The bathtubs are divided into hot and lukewarm. The soft, clouded white water is a simple sulfur spring with a mild acidity of PH 4.3 and is said to be good for neuralgia, sensitivity to cold, stiff shoulders, fatigue, hemorrhoids, arteriosclerosis, and other ailments.

It is also a beautiful hot spring that leaves your skin moist and smooth after bathing. Half-price tickets to the hot spring baths are available at the Seiun-so front desk for visitors to Unzen Onsen Seiun-so, which manages the hot spring baths.

Location	500-1, Unzen, Obama-cho, Unzen, Nagasaki, Japan
Phone number	0957-73-3273（Unzen Onsen Seiunso)
Business Hours	May-October / 9:30-20:00 November-April / 9:30-19:00
closed day	Wednesdays (open if Wednesday is a national holiday)
fee for a public bath	Adults 500 yen, elementary school students and younger 250 yen, children under 3 free (Seiun-so guests can purchase half-price tickets at the front desk)
spring quality	Simple sulfur onsen (hydrogen sulfide type)
Official Site	Seiunso official website https://www.seiunso.jp/kojigoku/

Unzen Shinyu Onsenkan, Unzen City

Public bathhouse carefully protected by local residents

This is another public bathhouse in Unzen Onsen. A "new bath" does not mean that the water is new or old, but rather that it was established around the end of the Meiji period (1868-1912) as a public bath managed by local residents. The current building was constructed around 1957. Therefore, the changing rooms and bathrooms are full of Showa-era retro atmosphere.
Like the "Kojigoku Onsenkan," the source of the spring is close by and there is an abundance of hot water. The water is an acidic spring containing sulfur, and the temperature is around 45 degrees Celsius. The water is soft to the touch and can be drunk. The bath is said to be effective for neuralgia, rheumatism, and to promote blood circulation, and it is best to soak up to the neck in the rather deep bathtub. The aroma of sulfur surrounds you and you are immersed in the benefits of the hot spring. Not only day-trippers, but also many visitors who stay at nearby hotels and inns come to enjoy the atmosphere of the secluded public bathhouse. Soap and shampoo are not provided, so bring your own bathing kit.

Location	320 Unzen, Obama-cho, Unzen City, Nagasaki
Phone number	0957-73-3233
Business Hours	9:00-22:00
closed day	Wednesday
fee for a public bath	Adults 200 yen, children 100 yen
spring quality	sulfur spring
Official Site	Unzen Tourism Bureau Official Website https://www.unzen.org/spot/shinyu_onsen

Hitoyoshi City Kofuku Onsen

Happy hot spring that overcame the crisis of closure

A 15-minute drive on Route 267, which runs from the central area of Hitoyoshi Hot Spring Village, known for its beautiful skin, to Isa City, Kagoshima Prefecture, brings you to "Kofuku Onsen" facing the Mochi River. Formerly operating under the name "Meitetsu Onsen," the management changed around 2012 and the hot spring became "Kofuku Onsen. However, it closed in September 2024. The business was in danger of going out of business, but the current owner, a resident of Kanagawa Prefecture and a native of Hitoyoshi, raised his hand to rebuild the business. On October 18, 2025, the spa officially reopened. The name remains the same, "Kofuku Onsen.

It is equipped with an indoor bath flooded with sunlight and an open-air bath, allowing visitors to enjoy the hot spring in a relaxed atmosphere. While Hitoyoshi Onsenkyo is clear and colorless with simple sodium spring water, this one is murky with greenish tints. The hot spring is said to be good for cuts, burns, and chronic skin diseases. In other words, it is a hot spring for beautiful skin. The spa is equipped with a sauna and a water bath, and has three family bath rooms with an open-air bath. The lobby sells fresh vegetables and eggs shipped by local farmers, and there is also a spacious rest room.

Location	1408-1 Furubutsujo-cho, Hitoyoshi-shi, Kumamoto, Japan
Phone number	0966-22-1238
Business Hours	11:00 - 21:00
closed day	2nd Wednesday of the month (open if the Wednesday is a national holiday)
fee for a public bath	65 years old and over: 350 yen, adults: 400 yen, elementary school students and under: 200 yen, infants: free Family bath: 1,200 yen and up (on the 26th of each month, adults: 200 yen, elementary school students and under: 100 yen)
spring quality	Sodium calcium chloride and bicarbonate spring
Official Site	Happiness Hot Springs Official Website https://koufuku-onsen.com/

Oguni Town Nu-Ruyu Onsen Public Bathhouse

As the name "Nunuruyu" suggests, it is a "lukewarm" bath!

This public bathhouse is located in the Kitasato district of Oguni Town and is said to be 200 years old. There are no inns nearby, and this public bathhouse is unmanned. Therefore, the bathing fee is placed in the fee box provided. There is no change, so two 100-yen coins are required. Of course, there is no soap, shampoo, or towels provided, so don't forget to bring a bathing set. The spring is a simple sulfur spring, and as the name suggests, the water is lukewarm at around 36 degrees Celsius. The bathtubs, which are divided into two, one large and one small, are covered with cobblestones, and the water is boiling between the stones. There is an abundance of hot water.

Warm water is fine in the summer, but a little cold in the winter? Don't worry, in winter the water in the small bathtub is heated to 41 degrees Celsius. The benefits are said to be for burns and rheumatism. The water can also be drunk and is said to be good for gastrointestinal diseases. The water also contains carbonic acid and the bubbles cling to the body. The origin of the name "Nutomeyu" comes from the fact that Nutome-san, who accompanied the lord in the daimyo's procession, healed the fatigue of his journey in this hot spring. In other words, it is a guess. No, there is a theory that it is related to the warlord of Chikuzen and Chikugo, "Nutomeyu Ryuusen. Let us guess in the hot water.

Location	2284 Kitazato, Oguni-machi, Aso-gun, Kumamoto
Phone number	0967-46-2113(Oguni Town Hall, Information Division, Tourism Section)
Business Hours	9:00 - 21:00
closed day	without a holiday
fee for a public bath	Adults 200 yen, children 100 yen
spring quality	simple sulfur spring

Bungotakada City, Bungotakada City, Japan

Free bathing with lunch order!

Madama Onsen in the northern part of Kunitachi Peninsula was called Yubara Onsen in the old days, and has a history of about 650 years. It is the oldest hot spring in the Kunisaki Peninsula and is said to have originated when "Madama Goro" discovered the source of the spring by a divine oracle, which cured him of his illness. Since then, it has been popularly known as "Kunisaki no Yu" (hot water of Kunisaki).

The baths at "Madama Onsen Sansuiso" are public accommodations, and the bathing fees are reasonable. The "Sunset" bathhouse with an open-air stone bath and the "Morning Sun" bathhouse with an open-air rock bath are available for drop-in bathing. Both bathhouses are spacious and equipped with a jet bath and Jacuzzi. The soft bicarbonate spring water is good for rheumatism, wounds and burns, musculoskeletal disorders, chronic eczema, menopausal disorders, etc. The drinking spring is good for diabetes, liver disease, gout, and chronic digestive disorders. If you eat lunch at the restaurant, you can get a free bathing ticket. The restaurant serves soba (buckwheat noodles), a specialty of Bungo Takada City (the photo is an image), and a variety of set menus.

Location	156-1 Jomae, Bungotakada City, Oita Prefecture
Phone number	0978-53-4390
Business Hours	10:00-22:00 (lights out 22:00)
closed day	2nd and 4th Tuesdays except holidays and August (Open all year round for overnight stays)
fee for a public bath	Junior high school students and older: 400 yen, 70 years old and older: 300 yen, 3 years old to elementary school students: 200 yen
spring quality	hydrogen carbonate spring
Official Site	Madama Onsen official website https://www.spaland.jp/

Miyakonojo City Happy Onsen HAPPY YOU

Cheap hot spring baths in town with lodging available

This is "Kofuku Onsen," a "hot spring in town" just a two-minute walk from JR Nishi-Tsushiro Station. It is said that a well was dug in a place that was originally a materials yard, and hot spring water came out of the well. Although there is no open-air bath, the spacious bathhouse is equipped with an electric bath, jet bath, sauna, and water bath, and most attractive of all, shampoo and body soap are provided for a reasonable price. There is also an outdoor air bath space after the sauna.

The hot spring water is a simple iron cold mineral spring rich in iron. There is a bathtub that emits brownish water alongside a bathtub of clear, colorless water, but in fact, the simple cold mineral spring water becomes cloudy when heated. Its source temperature is 19.3 degrees Celsius. The water bath also contains hot spring elements, and the heated bathtub is set slightly lukewarm to allow visitors to take a long bath. The benefits include neuralgia, muscular pain, joint pain, stiff shoulders, and motor paralysis. The second floor of the building is a lodging facility where guests can stay at a discount rate.

Location	3122-6 Miyamaru-cho, Miyakonojo City, Miyazaki Prefecture
Phone number	0986-23-2222
Business Hours	9:00 - 23:00
closed day	without a holiday
fee for a public bath	Adults: 450 yen, Junior and senior high school students: 300 yen, Elementary school students and younger: 220 yen, Children under 3: free
spring quality	simple iron carbonate spring
Official Site	Happiness Hot Springs Official Website https://www.koufukuonsen.com/

Miyakonojo City Superb hot spring Yamada Onsen

The hot water is thick and smooth, and the skin is smooth.

The "Yamada Onsen Exchange Center" in Yamada-cho, a suburb of Miyakonojo City, was reborn as "Gokujo no Yu Yamada Onsen" in the fall of 2023. In the following year, the center added men's and women's open-air baths. Located at the foot of the Kirishima Mountain Range, the spring water gushes out from 1,700 meters underground. It has long been known as the "hot water of beauty," and its natural hot spring water is known for its smooth and mild quality. Of course, your skin will feel smooth and silky after taking a bath! You will never feel cold.

Despite the low bathing fee, body soap and rinse-in shampoo are provided, and some of the shower heads in the bathroom are Ultra Fine Bubble products that remove dirt from pores and between wrinkles. The water bath uses Kirishima Rekka water, natural groundwater from the Kirishima Mountains. Electronic payment can be made for bathing fees, and Wi-Fi is available inside the building. There is a hot spring water vending stand in the parking lot, so bring your own container to get hot spring water! The water is good for neuralgia, muscle pain, joint pain, frozen shoulders, and chronic digestive diseases, etc. Drinking the water is said to be good for chronic digestive diseases, liver disease, diabetes, and gout. There is also a one-day bathing pass that allows you to come and go as you please.

Location	1913 Nakagirishima, Yamada-cho, Miyakonojo City, Miyazaki Prefecture
Phone number	0986-64-2020
Business Hours	7:00 - 22:00
closed day	3rd Wed.
fee for a public bath	High school students and older: 420 yen, 3 years old and up to junior high school students: 210 yen One day bathing/High school students and older: 630 yen, 3 years old and up to junior high school students: 310 yen
spring quality	Sodium hydrogen carbonate hot spring
Official Site	Yamada Onsen Official Site https://yamada-spa.com/

Nishimaira Village Nishimaira Hot Spring Yutato

Relax in a secluded area deep in the mountains

Nishimaira Village in Miyazaki Prefecture is located in the Kyushu Mountains, and 96% of the village's area is mountain forest. The public hot spring in this unexplored village deep in the mountains is Nishimaira Onsen Yuta~to. There are two large baths, "Kawanoyu" with an open-air rock bath and "Yo-no-yu" with an open-air cypress bath, with men's and women's baths changing weekly. The open-air baths offer a magnificent view of the mountains and a pleasant breeze through the forest. Surrounded by seasonal nature and the sounds of wild birds and insects, you can look up at the stars and the moon from the baths at night. This is the great taste of the unexplored hot spring.

The spring water is a sodium bicarbonate hot spring, which makes the skin smooth and beautiful after bathing. It is said to be effective for neuralgia, muscle pain, joint pain, stiff shoulders, motor paralysis, and stiff joints. In addition to the large baths, family baths are also available. The building is also equipped with a forest bathing deck, a dining area, and a snack corner. There is also a cottage next door, and an accommodation building will be completed in June 2025. Why not spend the night?

Location	260-6, Murakoro, Nishimaira-mura, Koyu-gun, Miyazaki Prefecture
Phone number	0983-41-4126
Business Hours	October - June / 10:00 - 21:00 July-September / 10:00-22:00
closed day	Wednesdays and January 1
fee for a public bath	Adults: 500 yen, Elementary and junior high school students: 250 yen
spring quality	Sodium hydrogen carbonate hot spring
Official Site	Nishimera Onsen Yutato official site http://www.yutato.com/

Iriki Onsen Yunozankan, Satsumasendai City

Get the benefits of two springs at once for ¥270

Iriki Onsen has a 700-year history and was managed by the Irikiin family, the lords of the domain. It is said that the lords of the Shimazu family, the feudal lord of Satsuma, visited this hot spring during the Edo period, and the names of the baths, such as "Gozenyu," "Washoyu," and "Ajiroyu," are vestiges of that time. The "Yunoyama-kan" opened in April 2015 after the municipal "Azeroyu Public Bathhouse" and "Shibagakiyu Public Bathhouse" were closed, drawing water from the sources of both hot springs. It is a relatively new one-day spa facility. There is also a free footbath outside.

The large bathhouse has "Azero-yu" and "Shibagaki-yu" with free-flowing hot-spring water, and the temperature of the high-temperature "Azero-yu" is adjusted by using vaporization heat without adding water as much as possible. The different qualities of the springs are expected to be effective for neuralgia, joint pain, women's diseases, skin diseases, sensitivity to cold, and external wounds such as cuts. The bathing fee is 270 yen, and 500 yen for a set of towel, shampoo, conditioner, and body soap! Of course, there is a sauna room, and there are also family baths for a fee.

Location	6179 Soeda, Iriki Town, Satsumasendai City
Phone number	0996-44-2301
Business Hours	6:00 - 22:00
closed day	1st and 3rd Mondays, January 1
fee for a public bath	Junior high school students and older: 270 yen, junior high school students and younger: 80 yen
spring quality	Azero hot water / sodium-chloride Shibagaki hot water / sodium chloride and bicarbonate spring
Official Site	Iriki Onsen Yunozankan Official Website https://yunoyamakan.jimdofree.com/

Izumi-shi Natural Hot Spring Nukumori-no-yu

The large bath and sauna are both very satisfactory facilities!

Located in Demizu Onsenkyo, a hot spring resort in Demizu City, famous for its cranes flying overhead, this spacious bathhouse opened in February 2013 and is equipped with a variety of bathtubs. Hot spring lovers will love the relaxing baths that provide massaging effects, electric baths that promote circulation, floating baths, and depression baths. There is also an open-air bath, which is said to be slightly lukewarm. Onsen benefits include cuts, end-arrival circulatory disorders, sensitivity to cold, dry skin, etc.

The sauna is also popular. Every Wednesday and Saturday and Sunday, Aufguss is held four times in the men's sauna at 12:00, 15:00, 18:00, and 20:00. After the sauna, visitors can go to the water bath. The men's water bath "Myojin-no-taki" releases 400 liters of natural groundwater per minute, making it the "best in Kyushu. The women's bath is the largest in the prefecture at 100 liters per minute. The spacious outdoor air bath space is also a hit with sauna fans. For the price of a bath, it is heavenly to have body soap, rinse-in shampoo, and a full sauna.

Location	1744-1 Myojin-cho, Demizu City, Kagoshima Prefecture
Phone number	0996-79-3726
Business Hours	8:00-22:00 (last admission at 21:30)
closed day	Mondays (open on national holidays and the third Monday of the month)
fee for a public bath	Adults 460 yen, elementary school students 150 yen, 3 years and older 80 yen
spring quality	Sodium chloride hot spring
Official Site	Nukumori-no-yu official website https://www.nukumorino-yu.com/