Fukushima · Tsuchiyu Onsen
Tsuchiyu Onsen Naka-no-Yu Public Bath
土湯温泉 公衆浴場 中之湯
The public bath at the centre of Tsuchiyu Onsen, a spa village in the fold of the Azuma range about 40 minutes by bus from Fukushima Station. Rebuilt in 2018 in fragrant timber, it faces the Arakawa mountain stream. The alkaline bicarbonate water is used free-flowing without heating or recirculation — clear and soft but decidedly hot, so adding cold water to taste is the local custom. Besides separate indoor baths there is a private bath (¥1,500), handy for families and couples. Adults ¥500, children ¥250; open 09:00–21:00 (last entry 20:30), closed Tuesdays (open over New Year). The village has foot baths, workshops making Tsuchiyu kokeshi dolls, the steaming Arakawa source and another communal bath, Kajika-no-yu, so a stroll with a kokeshi-painting session fills a pleasant half day. 82 free parking spaces. About 20 minutes by car from Fukushima-nishi IC, and a convenient gateway to the Bandai-Azuma Skyline.
- Price (adult)
- ¥500
- Hours
- 9:00–21:00 (main bath reception until 20:30, private baths 19:30)
- Closed
- Tue (next day if a holiday; open over New Year)
- Access
- Fukushima Kōtsū bus for Tsuchiyu Onsen from JR Fukushima Station east exit, about 40 min to the terminus then 3 min on foot; about 20 min by car from Fukushima-nishi IC via Route 115
- Water type
- Bicarbonate spring
- Tattoos
- Ask ahead
- Admission
- Adults (12+) ¥500 / children (1–11) ¥250. 12-visit book ¥5,000. Private bath ¥1,500 per room per 50 min (about 3 people, admission extra). No soap or shampoo provided (sold at the ticket machine). Cash only
- Baths
- Gender-separated baths on basement level: regular pool, hot pool (around 44°C) and rotenburo. Four private baths (Fukuju, Rakuju etc., on the 2nd floor and basement). Small — about five wash stations. Plenty of free lockers, lift available. No alcohol or food inside
- Water
- Two springs, every tub free-flowing: a simple spring (rotenburo and regular pool; a blend of four sources at about 62°C) and an alkaline bicarbonate spring (hot pool and private baths 1–2, from three sources beneath the building). Almost clear with a faint silkiness. The bicarbonate water softens the skin — a 'beauty bath'. Indicated for insomnia and nervous tension (simple spring), poor circulation, cuts and dry skin (bicarbonate)
- Parking & access
- Free parking for about 20 cars (public car parks in the village also usable). From the east exit of JR Fukushima Station, Fukushima Kotsu bus for Tsuchiyu Onsen about 40 min to the terminus, then 3 min on foot. About 10 km / 15 min from Fukushima-Nishi IC on the Tohoku Expressway via Route 115 towards Inawashiro
- Phone
- 024-563-3991
- Official site
- tcy.jp ↗
- Open in Google Maps
- Google Maps ↗
Essentials
Stay in this onsen town
Compare and book stays in Tsuchiyu Onsen. Day bathing itself needs no booking.
Opens partner booking site (affiliate)
Why go
- Riverside public bath rebuilt in 2018
- Unheated free-flowing water (hot; dilute as needed)
- ¥500; private bath ¥1,500; kokeshi village
Tsuchiyu — the kokeshi village — and its rebuilt public bath
Tsuchiyu Onsen Public Bath Naka-no-Yu is a bathhouse owned by Fukushima city at the heart of Tsuchiyu Onsen, where inns dot the clear Arakawa stream in the west of the city; it stands beside the main bridge. Tsuchiyu is one of the three great homes of traditional kokeshi dolls, and giant kokeshi stand around the village — the huge one outside Naka-no-Yu is the local landmark. The building was newly constructed on the site of the old communal 'Naka-no-Yu' and the former Fujiya inn, and for a modest ¥500 you can enjoy two springs — a simple spring and a bicarbonate spring — in tubs that are all free-flowing, an easy option for travellers who find inn day-bathing intimidating.
Two springs under one roof
The basement bathhouse has two indoor pools at different temperatures plus a rotenburo. The rotenburo and regular pool are fed with a simple spring — a blend of four village sources at about 62°C, cooled — while the 'hot pool' (around 44°C) uses an alkaline bicarbonate spring from three sources beneath the building. The latter softens the skin and leaves it smooth, a 'beauty bath', almost clear with a slight silkiness. Everything is free-flowing. Four private baths on the 2nd floor and in the basement (Fukuju-no-Yu, Rakuju-no-Yu and others) cost ¥1,500 per 50 minutes and suit families and couples wanting quiet; rooms 1 and 2 also use the bicarbonate spring. With only about five wash stations the bathroom is cosy — ten people fill it — so aim for a quiet hour.
Tips
Open 9:00–21:00 (main bath reception until 20:30, private baths 19:30), closed Tuesdays (the next day if a holiday; open over New Year). Adults ¥500, children ¥250, cash only. No soap or shampoo, so bring your own or buy at the ticket machine. No alcohol or food inside and hardly anywhere to lounge — this is a 'quick dip' kind of place. 40 minutes by bus from Fukushima Station then 3 minutes on foot; 15 minutes from Fukushima-Nishi IC. The village has several footbaths, kokeshi workshops and a riverside path along the Arakawa gorge for a stroll before or after, and it is a handy stop on drives to the Bandai-Azuma Skyline or Inawashiro.
Before you go
- No official tattoo policy is published — ask at reception.
- Payment is usually by ticket machine in cash — bring coins.
- Last entry is 30–60 minutes before closing.
Features
Rules & private
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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