# Yunomine Onsen

> 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.

- Prefecture: Wakayama
- Type: Onsen
- Address: Tanabe, Wakayama, Japan
- Opening hours: Mon–Sun 06:00–21:30
- Admission: 800 yen
- Official site: https://www.hongu.jp/onsen/yunomine/

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.

## FAQ

### 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.

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Source: Yunomine Onsen — Japan Voyage