I was visiting around 11:40am. Not available all tubs but one was warm. Worth it to visit. 300 yen per person and recommend to bring bath tower for cover your body in the onsen.
An intimate and restorative outdoor hot spring on the southern point of Yakushima Island, Japan. This onsen is unique in the way that it is only available twice a day, during the low tide; timing is crucial. I had the privilege of donating money, washing up, then soaking in this space after acclimating to its natural heat.
View my video of the space on YouTube~
Sidenote: I'm a tourist and saw other tourists doing weird things. Be mindful.
Mixed gender open-air onsen that's right by the beach. Open 2 hours before or after low tide. That's two times a day - once in the morning and then again in the evening. You pay $300 to the drop box. There are no people attending it but there is a camera at the entrance thanking you for donating every time you passed by.
There's a separate changing room for the ladies and men. Ladies can wrap themselves in a towel. The guys bring a small towel to cover up before entering the pool. It's pretty much nude. There are two water hose stations you can use to wash yourself before and after. There are sea critters by the onsen but they are not in the water.
It's pretty cool especially if you go during the sunset. I'd expect night time would be good too to see the stars. The rocks are very slippery so be careful. There's parallel parking right before entering the place that holds about 10 cars. There's a couple spots right be the onsen entrance but I would not try it unless you have a really compact car. You may have to back out all the way to the main road if you can't find any open spots.
There are three main onsen pools and smaller individual ones. Try all three main pools as the temperature varies. The first one I got in was not too hot. The second one was wayyy to hot and the last one was perfect.
No pics and videos allowed so none attached. I didn't have any gear as I was just driving by. I stopped by at a nearby food store for a ¥150 small towel and got ¥300 in change. I'd say it's better than indoor onsens especially if you go during a sunset.
This is a natural hot spring that feels similar to a nudist beach. According to long-standing local traditions, swimwear is generally not allowed. However, because the area is quite bright, most men use a towel and women wear pareos to cover themselves.
Honestly, with the increasing number of tourists and foreign visitors, I feel like allowing swimwear could be an option in the future. That being said, it is a traditional spot with local customs, so I really hope everyone respects and follows the rules for now. Also, please keep in mind that cameras are strictly prohibited as everyone is nude.
