Aomori · Furōfushi Onsen, Fukaura
Koganezaki Furōfushi Onsen
黄金崎不老ふ死温泉
The highlight of any Gonō Line journey: a lone inn famous nationwide for its 'seaside open-air bath' set right at the water's edge of the Sea of Japan. Iron-rich chloride water, rust-red and cloudy, seems to merge with sea and sky. Day use is ¥600 — the seaside bath 8:00–16:00 (last entry 15:30), the main-building indoor 'Kogane-no-yu' 8:00–20:00. The mixed outdoor bath allows bathing wear (rental fee); a women-only outdoor bath sits alongside. Sunset soaks are for overnight guests only, so stay if you want one of Japan's 100 best sunsets from the tub.
- Price (adult)
- ¥1,000
- Hours
- Seaside rotenburo 08:00–16:00 (last entry 15:30) / main bldg 'Kogane-no-yu' 08:00–20:00 / new wing 'Furofushi-no-yu' 10:30–14:00
- Closed
- Open daily (seaside bath closed in rough weather; winter hours differ)
- Access
- 5 min by inn shuttle from Wespa-Tsubakiyama Station on the JR Gonō Line (call ahead) or 15 min walk from Henashi Station; 110 min by car from Ōwani-Hirosaki IC
- Water type
- Iron spring
- Tattoos
- Ask ahead
- Admission
- Day bathing: adults ¥1,000 / elementary ¥500 (revised August 2024). Towel purchase plus bath-towel rental set ¥500. ¥200 off on showing a Resort Shirakami ticket. Bathing garments for the mixed bath can be rented or bought (free for overnight guests)
- Baths
- Three bathing areas: ① the famous 'seaside rotenburo' — a gourd-shaped mixed bath at the water's edge plus a walled women-only tub, in lukewarm golden water; ② the main building's indoor 'Kogane-no-yu'; ③ the new wing's 'Furofushi-no-yu' with sauna and panoramic rotenburo. Day visitors may use the seaside bath until 16:00; sunset hours are for overnight guests
- Water
- Iron-bearing sodium-magnesium chloride strong brine. Clear at the vent, it turns reddish-brown to gold as the iron oxidises in air. The heavy salt content holds heat so you don't chill afterwards, it has antiseptic properties, and it is rich in metasilicic acid and bicarbonate. Free-flowing source water
- Parking & access
- Free parking. Free 5-min shuttle from WeSPa Tsubakiyama Station on the JR Gono Line (timed to Resort Shirakami trains, no booking; reserve if arriving by local train), or about 15 min on foot from Henashi Station. About 2 h from Namioka IC on the Tohoku Expressway via Route 101; about 1 h 30 min from Noshiro coming from Akita
- Phone
- 0173-74-3500
- Official site
- furofushi.com ↗
- Open in Google Maps
- Google Maps ↗
Essentials
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Why go
- Open-air bath at the sea's edge
- Rust-red iron-rich water
- ¥600; seaside bath until 16:00
Waves within earshot of the tub — the highlight of a Gono Line journey, a golden mixed-sex rotenburo at the edge of the Sea of Japan
Koganezaki Furofushi Onsen is a lone inn on a headland in Fukaura, Aomori, where the Shirakami mountains tumble into the Sea of Japan — effectively a compulsory stop for anyone riding the spectacular Gono Line (Resort Shirakami) between Akita and Aomori. Its signature is the 'seaside rotenburo' built on rocks where the waves break: a large gourd-shaped mixed bath and a walled women-only tub side by side, with the horizon spread across 180 degrees so that you feel immersed in the sea itself. The water is an iron-bearing chloride strong brine — clear at the vent, turning reddish-brown to gold as the iron oxidises — and the heavy salt warms you to the core even at a lukewarm temperature, inviting a long soak. For women hesitant about mixed bathing, thick towelling bathing garments with shoulder straps are available to rent or buy, which is why plenty of women do take the plunge. Day bathing (¥1,000) covers the seaside bath until 16:00 and the main-building indoor bath until 20:00; watching Fukaura's sunset — one of Japan's 'Top 100' — from the rotenburo is a privilege reserved for overnight guests. Staying the night and sinking into the sea as the sun goes down is the proper way to experience this place.
Tips & notes
① Seaside rotenburo: day reception until 15:30, closes 16:00; new-wing bathhouse 10:30–14:00 — the three areas keep different hours, so time your arrival. ② The rotenburo has only a changing hut, no washing stations — wash in the indoor bath first, then walk over (2–3 min, sandals). ③ No towels or swimwear in the mixed tub; only the rental bathing garment is allowed. ④ Closed in high waves and winter storms; insects abound in summer. ⑤ The iron brine dyes white towels brown and tarnishes silver. ⑥ Show a Resort Shirakami ticket for ¥200 off; no shuttle booking needed. ⑦ The restaurant's tuna-steak rice bowl is the house speciality.
Getting there
The nearest station is WeSPa Tsubakiyama on the JR Gono Line — about 2 h 30 min from Akita on the Resort Shirakami, about 2 h 40 min from Aomori (Shin-Aomori). The inn's shuttle takes 5 min from the station (timed to Resort Shirakami arrivals, no booking; reserve if you come by local train), or walk 15 min along the coast from Henashi, one stop away. By car, about 2 h from Namioka IC on the Tohoku Expressway via Route 101, or about 1 h 30 min from Noshiro in Akita. Gono Line trains are few, so fix your timetable first; realistically, plan a night at WeSPa Tsubakiyama, Fukaura or here.
Before you go
- No official tattoo policy is published — ask at reception.
- There is a mixed-gender area. Check the description for bathing garments and women-only hours.
- Ryokan day-use hours are limited and may be suspended in peak season — phone the same morning.
- Last entry is 30–60 minutes before closing.
Features
Mood & scenery
Price
Who with
Convenience
Amenities
✔ Verified operating: 2026-09 Operating status and rates cross-checked against the official site and onsen guides (full source notes in Japanese on the JA page)
Prices and hours change. Check official sources before visiting.
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