Shika-no-Yu (Nasu Yumoto Onsen)
鹿の湯
Said to have been opened over 1,300 years ago, Shika-no-Yu is the oldest communal bathhouse in Nasu Yumoto, with wooden bathhouses holding sulphur baths at temperatures from 41 to 48 degrees.
Shika-no-Yu is the oldest hot spring in the Nasu Onsen area. According to legend, it was discovered about 1,300 years ago by a hunter tracking a wounded deer. The wooden bathhouse spans the Yugawa stream and has a distinct Showa-era atmosphere. The bathing area has six pools ranging from 41 to 48 degrees. The milky white, strongly acidic sulphur water has a strong smell. Locals follow a set ritual: pour water over the head with a wooden ladle first, known as kaburi-yu, then bathe, moving from the cooler pools to the hotter ones, soaking for only a few minutes at a time. Admission costs about JPY 500-700. There are no shampoo or shower facilities, so bring your own towel. The bathhouse is on the south side of Sesshoseki, about 5 minutes on foot from the Nasu Yumoto bus stop. Sulphur water tarnishes silver, so remove any jewellery before bathing.
Opening hours
08:00–18:00
Nearby sights
- Sessho-seki (Killing Stone)
- Nasu Heisei-no-Mori Forest
- Minamigaoka Ranch
- Kita Onsen
- Mt. Chausu & Nasu Ropeway
- Nasu Safari Park
- Nasu Stained Glass Museum
- Nasu Highland Park