Zao Onsen, Yamagata
Shimoyu Public Bath
The most convenient of Zao's three public baths for visitors arriving by bus, with a hand bath and footbath outside. The indoor bath is basic: there are no showers, taps or lockers, and soap is not allowed.
Check before bathing
- Opening hours
- 06:00–22:00 year-round. Adult ¥300; child ¥100. Payment is collected in an unmanned box. No dedicated parking.
Spring & water temperature
- Spring-source temperature
- 53.3°C for the published source.
- Bathing temperature
- Not published; it may vary with season, inflow and added water.
- Spring source
- A mixed supply from the Hebaragōri, Inkyō and Kaminokawa springs.
- Spring classification
- Acidic sulfur-bearing aluminum sulfate-chloride spring; low-tonicity and high-temperature.
- pH
- Not published for this bathhouse.
- Flow rate
- Not published for this bathhouse.
- Water handling
- The published spring notice says well water is added to adjust temperature; no heating, circulation or disinfectant is used, and the bath is full-discharge source-flowing. An outdoor hand bath and footbath are also available.
Bathing indications
The area authority publishes general bathing indications for Zao Onsen; this is not a promise of medical benefit.
No showers, taps or lockable lockers; soap is prohibited.
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.
