What other travelers are saying about Hirauchi Kaichu Onsen
Amazing experience walking down to this onsen at 8pm (low tide was at 10) on a Sunday night, and sharing the place with a few locals. There was an electrical storm on the horizon and the pool was not too hot.
Incredible being in warm water while waves rushed in towards us (but never hit us) and watching the lightning on one horizon… and looking up at the stars on the other side of the horizon….unforgettable…
The onsen is accessible via bus or taxi from Ibusuki Station. It’s about a 30-minute drive from the station. Make sure to check local transportation schedules for the best route.
The onsen has limited accessibility features. It may be challenging for those with mobility issues due to its natural beach setting and uneven terrain.
Hirauchi Kaichu Onsen features a mix of open-air baths with natural sea views. The baths are filled with mineral-rich water sourced directly from the ocean.
We arrived 2 hours before high tide and just as the rain started. Had the pools to ourselves. There is no attendant. Just put your coins in the money jar. Honour system - at least today. There is a seperate men and womens change hut. We changed into towels wraps and took our kit back to the car. Only two car spots and it is a reverse out location. The two pools are down a concrete path, past the little gates with the change huts left smd right. The pools are in between the rocks down near the ocean.
Wear a towel around yourself down the 10m ramp to the pool. Shoes or sandals are left at the end of the ramp above the pools. Drop the bath towel on the edge of the pool and slide in.
Caution. The rocks are slipery so go slowly at the edge of the pool and in the pool itself.
The two pools are about 1.5. and 2.4m diameter. Keep a modesty towel (a face cloth or small towel) over your lower self if you are really shy, but honestly nobody is looking. You will be sitting shoulder deep in 39 to 41 degree crystal clear water. There is a faint Sulphur aroma but not strong at all. Move around in the rock pool to find cooler areas.
Stunning rocks, mountains, forests and ocean vistas are all around so sit back and take it in.
As the tide rises the water starts to slop over the edges and cool the pool. Time to take your leasurely leave. We just wore our towels back to the car. Best 300 yen ever.
Very lovely outdoor onsen experience sitting in between large boulders hearing the ocean waves, dont be too concerned about the naked rule. Although no swimsuits are allowed, the women wore sarong like dresses (like a boob tube dress) and men had a modesty towel or cloth over their privates.
I did have my silver jewellery tarnish from the sulphur in the water which made it go bluish grey. So remove your silver jewellery if you dont want that! (Its not permanent and can be polished off)
The onsen is in an amazing location, amidst rocks on the shore line. And it's worth a visit if you're in the area. However, if you're an onsen lover the visit maybe just to say you've been.
The bath itself is not very warm and is quite shallow. As you'd expect, it's very popular with both locals and visitors. Despite what I read online, the Japanese ladies in the bath were both wearing bathing dresses. And one of them was definitely local. The Japanese men were naked.
There's nowhere to leave your clothes, except on the nearby rocks. If it's windy, weigh them down somehow. I almost my underwear and trousers!
Fascinating unusual onsen. Mixed nude bathing. But you can also have a simple foot bath in one of the the small shallow pools at the end of the walkway. Although the signs refer to lockers, bring a bag to put your clothes in when you go for your onsen and store your gear on the nearby rocks. Take a basin or ladle to wash yourself in sea water near the onsen. With high levels of calcium in the water it is very slippery, so take your time and be careful. As the tide slowly comes in it is fun to move to the small pools closer to the sea and get washed back in.
