Kita Onsen
北温泉
A hidden hot spring deep in the Nasu mountains, with just one inn. Famous for the Tengu Bath, hung with giant tengu masks, and an open-air pool-style bath.
Kita Onsen is a hidden hot spring at the deepest part of the Nasu Onsen area. The valley has only one wooden inn, which dates back to the Edo period, and its old timber buildings retain the feel of the pre-Showa era. The best-known feature is the Tengu Bath, its walls covered with huge tengu masks, and the Oyu Pool, a large outdoor bath resembling a swimming pool. The film Thermae Romae was shot here. Day visits are possible for about JPY 700-1,000, though access times are limited. You can also stay overnight to experience the hidden spring. From Nasu Yumoto, it is about 15 minutes by car to the car park, then about 5 minutes on foot down a steep slope to the inn. Watch for ice on the road in winter. Some baths are mixed-gender, so check in advance.
Opening hours
Same-day bathing approx. 08:30–16:30
Nearby sights
- Nasu Heisei-no-Mori Forest
- Mt. Chausu & Nasu Ropeway
- Sessho-seki (Killing Stone)
- Shika-no-Yu (Nasu Yumoto Onsen)
- Nasu Animal Kingdom
- Minamigaoka Ranch
- Nasu Stained Glass Museum
- Nasu Safari Park