
Nara · Soni Kōgen Onsen
Soni Kōgen Onsen Okame-no-yu
曽爾高原温泉 お亀の湯
A village-run day spa inside the Soni Kōgen Farm Garden at the foot of the Soni plateau, on Nara's eastern edge, where the pampas-grass meadows turn gold in autumn. The sodium-bicarbonate water is remarkably slippery and lives up to its 'beauty bath' reputation, leaving skin silky. The indoor hall has a free-flowing source tub, and the open-air bath looks out to the rock peaks of Kabuto-dake and Yoroi-dake and across the highland (a wood bathroom and a stone bathroom alternate weekly between men and women). Adults ¥900, children ¥500; open 11:00–21:00 (until 20:30 December–March; last entry one hour before), closed Wednesdays (open if a holiday, then closed the next day) and over New Year. A craft brewery, farm shop and restaurant share the site; it gets very busy in pampas season (October–November). About 45 minutes by bus from Nabari Station; about 1 h 50 min by car from Osaka.
- Price (adult)
- ¥900
- Hours
- 11:00–21:00 (until 20:30 Dec–Mar)
- Closed
- Wed (next day if holiday); New Year holidays
- Access
- Mie Kōtsū bus for Yamakasu-nishi from Kintetsu Nabari Station, about 45 min to 'Taraji' then 10 min on foot; about 40 min by car from Hari IC; about 1 h 50 min from central Osaka
- Water type
- Bicarbonate spring
- Tattoos
- Ask ahead
- Phone
- 0745-98-2615
- Official site
- www.soni-kogen.com ↗
- Open in Google Maps
- Google Maps ↗
Essentials
Stay in this onsen town
Compare and book stays in Soni Kōgen Onsen. Day bathing itself needs no booking.
Opens partner booking site (affiliate)
Why go
- Below the pampas meadows of Soni plateau
- Open-air bath facing rocky peaks
- ¥900; closed Wed; craft brewery on site
Before you go
- No official tattoo policy is published — ask at reception.
- Last entry is 30–60 minutes before closing.
Features
Mood & scenery
Sauna & wellness
Price
Amenities
✔ Verified operating: 2026-09 じゃらん/曽爾村公式/ゆる〜と(大人900円・11–21時 冬期20:30・水曜休)
Prices and hours change. Check official sources before visiting.
More in this area
Totsukawa Onsen Iori-no-yu
At the southern tip of Nara, directly opposite the Totsukawa Onsen bus center where Japan's longest local bus route (Yagi–Shingu) stops. A small all-timber bathhouse looking down on the Futatsuno dam lake. The whole village has pledged 'free-flowing spring water only', so nothing is recirculated. Free foot bath, hand bath and drinking fountain. Combine with the Kumano Kodo and Tanize suspension bridge.
Totsukawa Onsen Ikoi-no-yu
A village-run public bath on the shore of Futatsuno Dam lake in Totsukawa, the village that declared all its baths 100% free-flowing. Attached to a seniors' centre, it's plain but pours 70°C bicarbonate-chloride water straight in with no recirculation. Handy on Tuesdays when nearby Iori-no-yu is closed. ¥600, 9:00–21:00, closed only Jan 1–2. Five minutes' walk from Totsukawa-Onsen bus stop.
Tōsenji Onsen Izumi-yu (Totsukawa)
The village-run public bath of Tōsenji Onsen, the oldest spring in Totsukawa. pH 9.1 alkaline sulfur water flows fresh from the source even through the taps, leaving a faint sulfur scent and slippery skin. Just a stone open-air bath facing the gorge and an indoor tub—simple and ¥600. Handy on Route 168 en route to the Tanize suspension bridge or Kumano Hongū Taisha.