Kuju Highlands, Taketa, Oita Prefecture
Akagawa Onsen Akagawa-so
A remote mountain bath for anyone keen to try both warm pools and a naturally cold, mineral-rich spring. Opening days change by season and are published month by month, so check the facility calendar before setting out.
Check before bathing
- Opening hours
- Usually 10:00–18:00, with last admission at 17:00, on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays and public holidays. From December through February, it generally opens on weekends only. The facility publishes monthly exceptions; weather can also force a closure. Adults ¥1,000, elementary-school children ¥700 and preschoolers ¥500.
- Access
- In the Kuju Highlands. Day visitors should use the lower 50-space hikers' car park; the eight spaces by the entrance are for overnight guests and visitors with mobility needs.
- Tattoo policy
- The facility's current day-use and spring pages do not state a tattoo policy; confirm with Akagawa-so before travelling if needed.
Spring & water temperature
- Spring-source temperature
- About 26°C, as described by the operator.
- Bathing temperature
- Indoor heated bath about 41°C; heated outdoor bath about 39°C; the outdoor source-water bath is about 27°C in summer and 20°C in winter.
- Spring classification
- Carbon dioxide- and sulfur-bearing calcium sulfate cold mineral spring, hydrogen-sulfide type.
- Water handling
- Three naturally flowing sources feed the baths. The water is described as 100% natural and source-flowing, with no added water; some pools are heated.
The sulfur-gas safety guidance requires the bathroom windows to remain open. Follow posted ventilation instructions and check the latest monthly calendar, especially in winter or during severe weather.
How to read a bath profile
Spring-source temperature and actual bathing temperature are kept separate. Each score is shown independently for comparison rather than collapsed into one overall score.
