Yunomine Onsen

Onsen

Last updated August 31, 2026 Reviewed by the Japan Voyage editorial team

Prefecture

Wakayama

Type

Onsen

N/A

0 reviews

¥800

Entry Fee

Restaurant

About This Destination

A tiny, steam-wrapped hot-spring hamlet near Kumano Hongu, home to Tsuboyu, a rock-cut riverside tub said to be the only World Heritage bath you can actually soak in.

Yunomine Onsen is one of Japan's oldest hot springs, tucked into a narrow valley a short drive from Kumano Hongu Taisha, and for centuries pilgrims on the Kumano Kodo purified themselves in its waters before worship. At its centre a small stream steams beside the road, and a hut over the water holds Tsuboyu, a bath carved from natural rock that fits only a couple of people and is rented in half-hour turns; it is listed as part of the Kumano World Heritage site. Nearby public baths offer a regular tub and a stronger 'medicine bath', and visitors can buy eggs and vegetables to cook in the boiling spring at the Yuzutsu spring. The village makes a natural overnight stop for walkers on the Kumano Kodo.

Location

Prefecture: Wakayama

Address: Tanabe, Wakayama, Japan

Nearest Station: Kii-Tanabe Station (bus)

Opening hours: Mon–Sun 06:00–21:30

Best time to visit: Year-round; the hot-spring village is especially atmospheric on cold mornings with rising steam

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Visitor Information

Credit Cards: Unknown

Official Website

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I really bathe in the World Heritage Tsuboyu?

Yes. Tsuboyu is rented for private use in roughly 30-minute slots for around 800 yen; you check in at the public bathhouse, and because it holds only two or three people there can be a wait at busy times.

How do I get to Yunomine Onsen?

Take a Ryujin or Meiko bus toward Hongu from JR Kii-Tanabe Station and change near Hongu, or drive; it is a few minutes from Kumano Hongu Taisha. Public transport is limited, so check timetables.