Fukui · Hanahasu Onsen, Minami-Echizen
Hanahasu Onsen Somayama
花はす温泉 そまやま
A town-run hot-spring inn next to Hanahasu Park in Minami-Echizen, Fukui, where more than 130 varieties of lotus bloom. The alkaline simple water from about 1,000 m down clings softly to the skin; there is a roomy indoor bath, a garden-style open-air bath, the signature 'lotus bath' floated with lotus leaves and flowers, plus bubble bath, lie-down bath and sauna. Day bathing is a modest ¥650 for adults and ¥350 for children, and the long 08:00–22:00 hours (last entry 21:00) are a bonus. Closed Tuesdays (open on holidays, during the July lotus festival and at New Year). The restaurant serves set meals with sashimi boats and 'lotus udon', and overnight stays are possible. About 5 minutes by car from Imajō IC on the Hokuriku Expressway or 10 minutes by taxi from JR Imajō Station — an easy stop between the Echizen coast and Tsuruga. Lotus season runs from late June to early August.
- Price (adult)
- ¥650
- Hours
- 08:00–22:00 (last entry 21:00)
- Closed
- Tue (open if a holiday)
- Access
- About 5 min by car from Imajō IC (Hokuriku Expressway); about 10 min by taxi from Imajō Station (Hapi-Line Fukui)
- Water type
- Alkaline simple
- Tattoos
- Ask ahead
- Admission
- Adults (junior high+) ¥650 / children (3 to elementary) ¥350 / under 3 free (Minami-Echizen residents ¥350). Soap and shampoo provided; face towel ¥200, bath-towel rental ¥150. Private rest room (11:00–15:00) from ¥3,146. Lodging from ¥6,000 (guests may also bathe 6–8 a.m. and 22–23 p.m.)
- Baths
- A municipal hot-spring lodge next to Hanahasu (lotus) Park. Gender-separated indoor baths, rotenburo and sauna, plus the unique 'Lotus Bath' — a signature tub floated with lotus leaves or infused with lotus. Free main hall, Japanese restaurant
- Water
- Alkaline simple hot spring. Colourless, soft on the skin; indicated for joint and muscle pain. Heated and recirculated. The lotuses in Hanahasu Park bloom from late June to early August (130 varieties)
- Parking & access
- Free parking for 200 cars. 7 min by car from Nanjo Station (Hapi-Line Fukui; ask about pick-up), 4.6 km from Yunoo Station. 5 km / 7 min from Imajo IC on the Hokuriku Expressway via Route 365; the Nanjo SA smart IC also works
- Phone
- 0778-47-3368
- Official site
- hanahasu.jp ↗
- Open in Google Maps
- Google Maps ↗
Essentials
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Why go
- Beside a park of 130 lotus varieties; 'lotus bath'
- Open 8 am–10 pm; ¥650
- 5 min from Imajō IC
The 'Lotus Bath' beside a park of 130 lotus varieties — a ¥650 municipal onsen open from 8 a.m., seven minutes from Imajo IC
Hanahasu Onsen Somayama is a municipal hot-spring lodge at the foot of the hills in Minami-Echizen, Fukui, seven minutes along Route 365 from Imajo IC on the Hokuriku Expressway, with Hanahasu Park — 130 lotus varieties blooming from late June to early August — spread out next door. Minami-Echizen is one of Japan's leading producers of edible lotus, and the bathhouse's signature 'Lotus Bath', floated with lotus leaves or infused with lotus extract, exists nowhere else; you enjoy it alongside gender-separated indoor baths, a rotenburo and a sauna. The water is an alkaline simple spring, colourless and soft, said to ease joint and muscle pain. As a public facility it charges ¥650 for adults (¥350 for residents), provides soap and shampoo, and has a free main hall; open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., it suits travellers on the Hokuriku Expressway for a morning bath or an evening rest. Modestly priced lodging (from ¥6,000) makes it a cheap onsen base between Tsuruga and Fukui, and during the July lotus festival the classic routine is to see the blooms early (lotus flowers open in the morning) and then bathe. Pair it with the old post town of Imajo-juku on the former Hokkoku Kaido for a half-day stroll.
Tips & notes
① Closed Tuesdays (open on holidays); when lodgers are in, day-use hours may be restricted — phone ahead (0778-47-3368). ② Lotus flowers open early and close by midday — in July do the park 7–9 a.m., then the bath. Festival weekends fill the car park. ③ The Lotus Bath varies by season and day; some days no leaves are floated. ④ No towels provided (sold ¥200 / rented ¥150). ⑤ The restaurant is mainly a lunch operation — late evenings, eat in Imajo or Takefu. ⑥ The mild alkaline water suits children and the elderly. ⑦ Heavy-snow country in winter (Dec–Mar); watch for chain restrictions on Route 365.
Getting there
From Imajo IC on the Hokuriku Expressway, 5 km / 7 min along Route 365 towards Imajo (also close to the Nanjo SA smart IC); about 40 min from central Fukui, about 35 min from Tsuruga; free parking for 200. By rail, 7 min by car from Nanjo Station on the Hapi-Line Fukui (about 25 min from Fukui) — there is no bus, so take a taxi or ask about pick-up. Combine with Hanahasu Park (1 min on foot), Imajo-juku (10 min by car) and a hike to Somayama castle ruins for a half day, or use it as an onsen break between Tsuruga and Fukui.
Before you go
- No official tattoo policy is published — ask at reception.
- Ryokan day-use hours are limited and may be suspended in peak season — phone the same morning.
- Payment is usually by ticket machine in cash — bring coins.
- Last entry is 30–60 minutes before closing.
Features
Mood & scenery
Sauna & wellness
Price
Who with
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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