The 5 Great Hot Springs for Beauty and Health in Kumamoto, Including a 600-Year-Old Traditional Hot Spring!

December 16, 2023 / Travel, Kyushu

As we officially step into autumn, with chilly days gradually approaching, if you're considering a trip to Japan during the fall and winter seasons, you cannot miss out on the experience of "onsen" (hot springs). Kumamoto Prefecture is a must-visit, being one of Japan's top onsen areas, ranking fifth in the country for the quantity and quality of hot springs.

Kumamoto is renowned for its hot springs, especially those categorized as the "Four Great Beauty Springs," known for their exceptional beauty effects. We will introduce you to famous hot springs in the prefecture, each possessing "weak alkaline simple spring," "sulfur spring," "sulfate spring," and "hydrogen carbonate spring." These hot springs are divided into five regions.

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Soft and Supple Skin Zone

In this area, you can enjoy the cleansing effects of "hydrogen carbonate spring" and the moisturizing effects of "chloride spring," also known as "salt pack."

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A recommended hot spring in this region is the Hitoyoshi Onsen, boasting over 50 water sources. It has a long history, starting as a hot spring in 1910. The water has a rich texture and features characteristics of a weak alkaline carbonated spring.

Beauty Effects: Pore care, dry skin care, moisturizing, oily skin care, cleansing, collagen metabolism, mood enhancement.

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Additionally, in the "Smooth Skin Zone," we recommend the "Yunoko Onsen（湯の児温泉）" located in the Ashikita Coast Prefectural Park. This famous hot spring is said to have been discovered around 1,900 years ago during the pacification of Kyushu by Emperor Keiko.

The "Nuru-yu" (lukewarm water) gushes out on the coast, known as the "child of hot water." You can enjoy locally sourced sodium bicarbonate springwater with added salt at ryokans in the area, believed to be effective not only for beauty but also for neuralgia.

Beauty Effects: Pore care, cleansing, promotion of collagen metabolism, mood reversal.

Smooth Skin Zone

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The "Smooth Skin Zone" refers to an area where you can experience rich cleansing and exfoliating effects without the need for additional water or heating, simply by using hot spring water. This region includes "hydrogen carbonate spring" and "chloride spring" with a high sodium content, offering excellent moisturizing effects.

A must-visit in this category is the Shimoda Onsen, a hot spring village where you can admire the magnificent scenery of Amakusa Sea. It is the only high-temperature onsen on the Amakusa Islands, maintaining a temperature of 51℃. The water, enriched with ions and gases due to the frictional heat from active faults, circulates in the onsen.

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Soaking in Shimoda Onsen while overlooking the Sea of Japan

Among the numerous hot springs in Kumamoto, only three are designated as national hot spring resorts, and Shimoda Onsen is one of them. It is also known as the "Heron Hot Spring" because of the legend that a heron healed its wing injury using the onsen water.

Beauty Effects: Pore care, dry skin care, moisturizing, oily skin care, cleansing, collagen metabolism, mood enhancement.

Warm and Healthy Skin Zone

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In the "Warm and Healthy Skin Zone," you can relax, warm your body, and improve your health. Similar to Shimoda Onsen, the "chloride spring" gushes forth in this area, and as it is close to the sea, sodium is added, making it a valuable source for thalassotherapy.

In this region, we recommend visiting the Kamikawa Onsen Town, centered around Oyano Town and Matsushima Town. Surrounded by the beautiful sea, it's a hot spring town where you can fully enjoy the blessings of the ocean, with a plethora of seafood-based cuisine.

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At Oyano Onsen, you can indulge in various baths, including a unique cave bath and a "Footbath BAR" that combines foot baths with a bar. Matsushima Onsen is renowned for its beautiful hot springs, and all rooms offer panoramic sunset views.

Beauty Effects: Dry skin care, moisturizing, enhanced collagen metabolism, skin transformation.

Multiple Beauty Zone

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The "Multiple Beauty Zone" is not to be missed, boasting seven out of ten different hot spring water qualities. Not only are they powerful in their effects, but there are rumors that, depending on the order of usage, their potency can significantly increase. This area, the powerhouse of Kumamoto, has consistently ranked as the top tourist destination in Kyushu for several years—the Kurokawa Onsen Town!

In this region, a visit to the Kurokawa Onsen Town is a must, where preserved traditional architecture enhances the ambiance. Apart from the unique "Yunohana Meguri" (Onsen-hopping pass), each onsen ryokan exudes a nostalgic atmosphere, and the journey through the outdoor baths is particularly special.

The "Onsen-hopping Pass" is a passport available at local onsen ryokans since 1986. It's a popular item that allows you to choose and experience three out of 28 participating onsens. It also serves as a collectible souvenir.
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The Kurokawa Onsen Village is implementing a project called "One Inn of Kurokawa Onsen," treating the natural scenery of the mountains and around 30 ryokans as a single inn. This initiative aims to provide visitors with a warm and welcoming sense of comfort throughout the onsen village.

Beauty Effects: Pore care, melanin (spot) care, dullness care, sagging care, skin regeneration, dry skin care, moisturizing, oily skin care, cleansing, blood circulation promotion, enhanced collagen metabolism.

Gentle Beauty Zone

For those who love hot springs but are a bit sensitive to stimulation, the "Gentle Beauty Zone" is perfect for you. This "entry-level" hot spring features a gentle "weakly alkaline simple hot spring" that allows you to slowly soak and further relax, easing stress.

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You can visit the Yunohira Onsen, where the hot spring is said to have been discovered by Rokuro Hamada in the year 1409, a boy who received information in his dream.

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Because of this background, the hot spring here has earned the reputation of being a "spiritual spring," attracting a constant stream of people seeking healing. This is said to be the oldest hot spring town in the prefecture, boasting a landscape with a history of over 600 years, along with ryokans that showcase tangible cultural assets and artistic masterpieces.

Beauty Effects: Pore care, cleansing, promotion of collagen metabolism, mindset transformation.

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