Kawayu Onsen
川湯温泉
A hot spring town at the foot of Mount Io, known for its strongly acidic sulfur springs, a hot spring river running through the town and free foot baths. It is a base for visiting Lake Mashu and Lake Kussharo.
Kawayu Onsen sits at the foot of Mount Io. Its springs are strongly acidic sulfur waters with a pH of about 1.8. The Yugawa, a river formed by the hot spring water, runs through the hot spring street, and there are free foot baths along the way. The town has more than ten inns and public baths, as well as the Kawayu Visitor Center, which introduces the nature of Akan-Mashu National Park. On severely cold winter mornings, rime ice can be seen. Kawayu Onsen Station on the JR line is about 3 km from the hot spring street, and the old station building has a foot bath and a café. It is about 20 minutes by car from the First Observation Deck of Lake Mashu and about 15 minutes from the Sunayu on Lake Kussharo. Note that the strongly acidic water should not come into contact with your eyes, and accessories may tarnish.
Opening hours
All day (hours vary by facility)
Nearby sights
- Mount Io (Atosanupuri)
- Sunayu, Lake Kussharo
- Lake Mashu (First Observatory)
- Kaminoko Pond
- Wakoto Peninsula
- 900 Grassland
- Bihoro Pass
- Tawadaira