Tochigi · Kawaji Onsen
Kawaji Onsen Yakushi-no-yu
川治温泉 薬師の湯
The communal bath of Kawaji Onsen, upstream of Kinugawa on the clear Ojika River. An old cure spa — 'burns to Kinugawa, wounds to Kawaji' went the saying — it uses its own mildly alkaline spring 100% free-flowing with no chlorination. Besides separate indoor and open-air baths there is a mixed rock bath open to the river, where you soak in lukewarm water facing the stream and hills (bathing garments allowed). A low-temperature sauna, private bath (¥4,000 / 50 min) and rest room complete it. Adults pay ¥1,000 (¥500 for Nikkō residents); open 10:00–20:00 (last entry 19:30), closed Wednesdays (next day if a holiday; open through Golden Week). Fifteen minutes on foot from Kawaji-Yumoto Station on the Yagan Railway, or about 15 minutes by car from Kinugawa-Onsen Station — easy to combine with Kinugawa.
- Price (adult)
- ¥1,000
- Hours
- 10:00–20:00
- Closed
- Wed (next day if holiday); open through Golden Week
- Access
- 15 min on foot from Kawaji-Yumoto Station (Yagan Railway); about 15 min by car from Tōbu Kinugawa-Onsen Station; about 45 min by car from Imaichi IC via Route 121
- Water type
- Alkaline simple
- Tattoos
- Ask ahead
- Phone
- 0288-78-0229
- Open in Google Maps
- Google Maps ↗
Essentials
Stay in this onsen town
Compare and book stays in Kawaji Onsen. Day bathing itself needs no booking.
Opens partner booking site (affiliate)
Why go
- Own spring, 100% free-flowing, no chlorine
- Riverside mixed rock bath (garments OK)
- 15 min by car from Kinugawa-Onsen
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.
- Last entry is 30–60 minutes before closing.
Features
Sauna & wellness
Rules & private
Mood & scenery
Price
Who with
Amenities
✔ Verified operating: 2026-09 るるぶ&more 2026／ジョルダン 2026-04（大人1,000円・10–20時 受付19:30・水曜休）
Prices and hours change. Check official sources before visiting.
More in this area
Moto-yu Shika-no-yu
The 1,300-year-old birthplace of Nasu Onsen. Inside the wooden bathhouse, tubs are graded from 41 to 48°C, all fed with milky, strongly acidic sulfur water. No showers, no soap — start with the traditional head-dousing ritual.
Kojika-no-yu
A day-use facility on the same source as Shika-no-yu, open every day until 9 pm with an open-air bath and private rooms. Ideal for families or anyone daunted by Shika-no-yu's rituals — the milky water is identical.
Kinugawa Onsen Niouson Plaza (day bathing)
A small riverside hotel on the south side of Kinugawa Onsen, five minutes from Tobu World Square Station. While the big hotels stop day bathing around 15:00, this one welcomes walk-ins 9:00–21:00 for ¥700. Its own alkaline sulfur spring (43.6 °C) flows 100% free into a quirky set of baths: a rotenburo made from an actual Kinugawa river-cruise boat, a rock rotenburo, indoor baths and a swimsuit mixed bath. The slightly cool, silky water is highly rated by onsen fans.