Tsukahara Onsen Kakō-no-Izumi
塚原温泉 火口乃泉
A mountain hot spring at the foot of Mount Garan beside the Kakō crater, with strongly acidic, iron- and aluminum-rich water said to be Japan’s second most acidic; a hidden bath near Yufuin.
Tsukahara Onsen lies about 8 km northeast of Yufuin, at the foot of Mount Garan on the north side of Mount Tsurumi, and is said to have a history of nearly a thousand years. The water of Kakō-no-Izumi is strongly acidic (pH about 1.4), and its iron and aluminum content ranks among the highest of Japan’s hot springs. The water is pale green with a slightly astringent taste, and it stings the skin, so people with sensitive skin or open wounds should not soak for long. Do not wash your face with the water. The facilities are simple, with open-air baths for men and women and a family bath. For an extra fee you can follow the trail to the crater rim to see the steam vents. Transport: there are no buses; a taxi or car from Yufuin Station takes about 20 minutes on narrow mountain roads. Admission is several hundred yen; check the official website for opening hours.
Opening hours
About 09:00–17:00
Nearby sights
- Sagiridai Observation Point
- Shitan-yu Public Bath
- Yufuin Yunotsubo Street
- Yufuin Floral Village
- Unagihime Shrine
- Yufuin no Mori Train
- Yunohira Onsen