Yakushiyu in Yumura Onsen: Admission, Sauna and the Hot Spring Source

Yakushiyu is the most straightforward day-use bath in Yumura Onsen if you want a proper soak rather than only a look at Arayu, the town’s near-boiling spring source. The ¥700 non-resident adult ticket includes the main bath, outdoor bath and sauna. It is open until 9:30pm, with last admission at 9pm, and has a 47-space car park. The bath is a short walk from Arayu, so it works well as part of a half-day in the hot-spring town.

Prices and what the standard ticket covers

The ordinary ticket covers the main gender-separated bathing areas, including the outdoor pool and sauna. There is also a second-floor multipurpose lounge plan: ¥1,200 for an adult or ¥800 for a child, including bath admission. The assisted-bathing room is a separate booking, not part of the standard ticket; call Yakushiyu to confirm availability and access arrangements before relying on it.

Yakushiyu fits easily into a visit to Yumura. For the Hamasaka bus connection and return timing, see the Yumura half-day guide; the details below cover the bathhouse.

The bath uses spring water from Arayu and Kabuyu

The source at Arayu reaches about 98°C, far too hot for bathing. Water from Arayu and Kabuyu reaches Yakushiyu at around 90°C; the facility uses some of that heat for hot-water taps and winter floor heating, cooling the spring water before it enters the bathing pools. The town describes the water prepared for the baths at roughly 50°C, but does not publish a fixed temperature for each pool.

Yakushiyu describes its baths as 100% natural spring water, supplied free-flowing. The heated source is part of the town’s everyday infrastructure as well as the bathing experience; nearby, the Arayu cooking area is where visitors can prepare eggs and vegetables in the spring water. Keep the two separate in your plans: Arayu is not a bathing pool, while Yakushiyu is.

Check the 15th-of-the-month closure before setting out

The usual closure is the 15th of each month. If that date falls on a Thursday, Saturday, Sunday or Japanese public holiday, the bath opens and shifts its closure to the next eligible weekday. Shinonsen Town publishes the 2026 calendar, which is more useful than guessing from the monthly rule. Hours are 8:30am–9:30pm, with reception ending at 9pm.

For reference, the published 2026 schedule lists August 17, September 15, October 16, November 16 and December 15 as closure dates. Check the calendar for the month you are visiting; the “15th” rule has exceptions.

If you are driving, the parking lot has 47 spaces. Yakushiyu users may park free for two hours; longer stays are charged under the town lot’s rules. Arayu is about a three-minute walk away, so a simple visit can combine the source, the riverside area and a bath without moving the car. The approach into the town is narrow in places; take care if driving a larger vehicle and follow local parking signs rather than stopping beside Arayu.

Call Yakushiyu before travelling if you need to know whether tattoos are allowed. Groups using the assisted-bathing room should also arrange the transfer setup with staff in advance.

The assisted bath is intended for visitors who need bathing support, not a standard couple’s private-bath rental. Shinonsen Town also gives holders of specified disability certificates the child admission rate; one caregiver accompanying a person with a Type 1 certificate may use that rate as well. Confirm eligibility and the assisted room’s equipment and booking terms directly.

Who is this bath best for?

Yakushiyu suits visitors who want one facility with an outdoor bath and sauna at a modest day-use price, especially if they are already visiting Arayu. The assisted-bathing room gives it an option that many ordinary public baths do not advertise, but its booking terms should be confirmed directly.

It is less useful as a rushed stop between trains. Yumura has no JR station, and the bus from Hamasaka takes about 25 minutes, so confirm the return connection before you travel. For a wider comparison of Japanese spring types and source temperatures, see the guide to reading onsen water temperatures.

Sources

- [Shinonsen Town: Yakushiyu facility information, 2026 closure calendar and source-water details](https://www.town.shinonsen.hyogo.jp/page/?mode=detail&page_id=e7278b4842a879e1204aa3664eb80b0e) - [Yumura Onsen Tourism Association: Yakushiyu prices, facilities and hours](https://www.yumura.gr.jp/yakushiyu/) - [Shinonsen Town: Yumura Onsen source Arayu](https://www.town.shinonsen.hyogo.jp/page/?mode=detail&page_id=56a48415080cf3241f78579b049a0f9d) - [Shinonsen Town: municipal parking near Yakushiyu and Arayu](https://www.town.shinonsen.hyogo.jp/page/index.php?mode=detail&page_id=708c73056039f8eb1514af82bbe54479) - [Jalan: Yakushiyu facility listing and visitor reviews](https://www.jalan.net/kankou/spt_28586cc3362044305/)

Tags: Yakushiyu, Yumura Onsen, Shinonsen, Hyogo, day-use onsen, public bath, outdoor bath, sauna, Arayu, hot spring source, assisted bathing, family bath, onsen admission, Sanin, Japan travel