Seven Day-Use Onsen in Ehime’s Toyo Region, Compared
Compare seven day-use baths across Imabari, Saijo and Niihama, with notes on train access, low-cost Nibukawa and stops suited to driving.
Checked: September 27, 2026 “Toyo” covers a broad stretch of eastern Ehime, not one walkable hot-spring town. These seven day-use baths make more sense as stops along a Shimanami Kaido ride, a drive through the prefecture, or a visit to the Besshi Copper Mine than as an onsen-hopping circuit.
Quick comparison
| Bath | Adult admission | Published bathing hours | Why it stands out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shimanami Onsen Kisuke no Yu | ¥850 weekdays; ¥900 weekends and holidays. Morning admission, 6–10 a.m.: ¥750/¥800 | 6 a.m.–midnight; last entry 11:15 p.m. | Beside JR Imabari Station, with several baths and saunas |
| Nibukawa Seseragi Koryukan | ¥560 | 10:30 a.m.–9 p.m.; last entry 8:30 p.m. | A low-cost stop by Nibukawa Gorge; alkaline simple spring, pH 9.9 |
| Yunoura Shikinoyu Beer Kobo | ¥600 | Weekdays 10 a.m.–10:45 p.m.; weekends and holidays 6 a.m.–10:45 p.m.; last entry 10:15 p.m. | Near Imabari-Yunoura Interchange; early weekend opening, outdoor bath and sauna |
| Yunotani Onsen | ¥600 weekdays; ¥700 weekends, holidays and designated dates | 8:30 a.m.–10 p.m.; last entry 9 p.m. | A small inn’s own naturally emerging spring, used in all bathing tubs and the cold bath |
| SPA P.SPO Hondani Onsen | ¥700 | 10 a.m.–10 p.m.; last entry 9:30 p.m. | Two rotating public-bath designs, each with an outdoor bath, sauna and cold bath; one private family bath |
| Toyo Onsen Iyashi Resort | ¥800 weekdays; ¥900 weekends, holidays and busy periods | 6 a.m.–11 p.m.; last entry 10 p.m. | A large bathing complex about two minutes from Toyo-Tanbara Interchange |
| Besshi Onsen Tenku no Yu | ¥700 weekdays; ¥750 on weekends, holidays and designated dates | 10 a.m.–10 p.m.; last entry 9 p.m. | On the fourth floor of the Minetopia Besshi visitor complex; rock-bath access costs extra |
Imabari: choose between the station, the gorge and the expressway
If you’re travelling by rail, Kisuke no Yu is the straightforward answer. It sits next to JR Imabari Station, opens at 6 a.m., and has a separate lower-priced morning ticket. The facility says morning-ticket holders can keep using the premises after 10 a.m.; the ticket doesn’t require an early exit. The standard bath stays open until midnight. Low-temperature sauna and lounge access are separate from the bath admission.
Nibukawa Seseragi Koryukan sits in the valley, away from the city centre. Its alkaline simple spring has a published pH of 9.9, and the facility has an outdoor bath, sauna, cold bath and a deck beside the gorge.
Admission is ¥560. It opens at 10:30 a.m., with last entry at 8:30 p.m., and closes on the second and fourth Monday each month. A closure falling on a holiday moves to the following weekday. A car is the practical way to reach it.
Shikinoyu, by Imabari-Yunoura Interchange, suits a different route. It opens at 6 a.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and Japanese public holidays, but not on weekdays; Thursday is its regular closing day. The facility lists an outdoor bath, sauna and a low-tonicity, weakly alkaline cold mineral spring. Bring soap, shampoo and a towel, as none are supplied in the bathing area. A weekend breakfast is available from 7 to 10 a.m.; the bath-and-meal set is listed at ¥1,300.
Saijo: three baths with different reasons to stop
Yunotani Onsen is the spring-focused choice. Its source emerges naturally on the grounds and supplies every bath, including the cold bath, through a flow-through system. The water is heated with firewood. Complimentary toiletries are not provided; a towel-and-amenities set is available to buy.
| Day-use admission | Price |
|---|---|
| Weekday | ¥600 |
| Weekend, holiday or designated date | ¥700 |
SPA P.SPO Hondani Onsen reopened under a private operator on April 9, 2026, after Saijo City transferred the facility. Its two public-bath designs alternate between the men’s and women’s sides; both have an outdoor bath, sauna and cold bath. The single private family-bath room has a baby-changing bed in the changing area.
| Day-use admission | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult public bath | ¥700 |
| Private family bath | ¥3,000 for 90 minutes |
Toyo Onsen Iyashi Resort is closer to a full-size spa than a small local bathhouse. Its large bath has a walking bath, medicinal bath and source-flow tub, along with a sauna and outdoor area. It opens daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., with last entry at 10 p.m.
| Day-use adult admission | Price |
|---|---|
| Weekday | ¥800 |
| Weekend, holiday or busy period | ¥900 |
The operator’s June 2026 update says private family baths are unavailable on weekdays. On Friday and the day before a holiday, they cost ¥3,500 per hour; weekends and holidays cost ¥4,000 per hour. Check monthly notices for maintenance closures.
Niihama: pair the bath with Besshi Copper Mine
Besshi Onsen Tenku no Yu is inside the main building of the Minetopia Besshi visitor complex, on its fourth floor. That makes it a natural end to a day at the former copper-mine site, rather than a standalone detour. The bath has indoor and outdoor pools, jet baths, a sauna and a cold bath. Rock-bath access costs extra. Shampoo and body soap are no longer supplied in the bathing area, but can be purchased at reception.
| Day-use detail | Current information |
|---|---|
| Adult admission | ¥700 weekdays; ¥750 weekends, holidays and designated peak dates |
| Hours | 10 a.m.–10 p.m.; last entry 9 p.m. |
The current tariff took effect in November 2025. Check the monthly calendar before a long drive.
Early starts, public transport and family bathing
At 6 a.m., the choice depends on where you slept: Kisuke no Yu is beside JR Imabari Station; Toyo Onsen opens daily near the expressway; Shikinoyu opens at 6 only on weekends and holidays. Yunotani starts at 8:30 a.m.; the other listed baths open later. See the separate Toyo early-morning onsen guide for morning-ticket and breakfast details.
Without a car, Kisuke is simplest. Yunotani is still workable: it is about a 15-minute walk from JR Ishizuchi-Yama Station or a short taxi ride from Iyo-Saijo. Besshi Onsen can be paired with a bus from JR Niihama Station to the mine visitor complex, but check the return service first. Nibukawa, Hondani, Toyo Onsen and Shikinoyu are more naturally reached by car.
Hondani has one private family bath with a baby-changing bed and separate toilet. Toyo Onsen’s family rooms are not rented on weekdays. Nibukawa’s rentable rest room is not a private hot-spring bath.
| Private-room option | Price and terms |
|---|---|
| Hondani family bath | ¥3,000 for 90 minutes |
| Toyo Onsen family room | ¥3,500 per hour Friday and the day before a holiday; ¥4,000 per hour weekends and holidays; unavailable weekdays |
Confirm availability before planning around a private room.
Tattoo entry is decided by each of the seven facilities. Check with the bath you plan to visit before setting out.
A simple way to narrow it down
Kisuke is easiest by train. Nibukawa suits a car trip where a low entry price and gorge setting matter more than an early start. Shikinoyu is useful near the expressway on weekend mornings. In Saijo, Yunotani stands out for its flow-through source water; Hondani has the private family room. Toyo Onsen opens early every day, while Tenku no Yu fits naturally after Minetopia Besshi.
The two Toyo guides answer different planning questions: see the 6 a.m. bathing comparison for Imabari and Saijo if your schedule starts early.
For a narrower choice, compare Kisuke no Yu with Nibukawa Seseragi Koryukan or Toyo Onsen with Besshi Tenku no Yu; those pairings are easier to fit into a route than a seven-bath circuit.
