Kumamoto · Yamaga & Hirayama Onsen
Hirayama Onsen Motoyu
平山温泉 元湯
The communal bath at the centre of Hirayama Onsen, a scatter of quiet inns in the hills ten minutes by car from Yamaga. The 1961 Hirayama Onsen Center was rebuilt in 2016 with an open-air bath added to the indoor one. The water is Hirayama's signature slippery alkaline sulphur spring — called one of Kyūshū's finest skin-beautifying baths — used 100% free-flowing. You can drink it or take some home, and the lobby sells local vegetables and eggs. ¥400; open 6:00–21:30, every day. About 11 minutes by bus from Yamaga bus centre to Hirayama-Onsen-mae, then a minute on foot. Combine with Sakura-yu for a Yamaga bath-hop.
- Price (adult)
- ¥400
- Hours
- 06:00–21:30
- Closed
- Open daily
- Access
- About 11 min by Kyūshū Sankō bus (for Nankan-Kamimachi) from Yamaga bus centre to Hirayama-Onsen-mae, then 1 min on foot; 20 min by car from Nankan IC or 18 min from Kikusui IC
- Water type
- Sulfur spring
- Tattoos
- Ask ahead
- Phone
- 0968-43-2041
- Official site
- hirayama-onsen.jp/facilities/motoyu ↗
- Open in Google Maps
- Google Maps ↗
Essentials
Stay in this onsen town
Compare and book stays in Yamaga & Hirayama Onsen. Day bathing itself needs no booking.
Opens partner booking site (affiliate)
Why go
- Slippery 'finest skin bath in Kyūshū'
- 100% free-flowing, ¥400
- From 6:00, open every day
Before you go
- No official tattoo policy is published — ask at reception.
- As a communal bath there is no soap or shampoo — bring your own or buy at the shop.
- The water runs hot (43–45°C). Don't add cold water; take short repeated dips instead.
- Payment is usually by ticket machine in cash — bring coins.
- Last entry is 30–60 minutes before closing.
Features
Price
Convenience
Amenities
✔ Verified operating: 2026-09 平山温泉観光協会・ニフティ温泉（大人400円・6–21:30・無休）
Prices and hours change. Check official sources before visiting.
More in this area
Kurokawa Onsen Nyuto Tegata (bath-hopping pass)
One cedar 'nyuto tegata' pass (¥1,500) admits you to any three of the rotenburo at Kurokawa's 26-odd ryokan. Valid for six months, and one of the three stickers can be spent on food or souvenirs instead. Most inns accept bathers roughly 8:30–21:00, but hours vary and some close for cleaning or when full. Buy the pass at any ryokan or the association office 'Kaze no Ya'.
Ana-yu communal bath
A tiny bath hut on the Tanohara River, rebuilt by donations in 2022 after the 2020 floods (now separate men's and women's rooms). Slide the shutters open and it becomes almost open-air. ¥200 in the box.
Jizō-yu (Kurokawa communal bath)
The oldest communal bath in town, next to the Jizō hall that gives Kurokawa its identity. Not covered by the bath-hopping pass, but only ¥200. No soap; the water runs hot.