Ibusuki Motoyu Onsen: What to Know Before You Go
Ibusuki Motoyu is a ¥400 bath, 15 minutes from the station, with two tubs per side. Check Monday closures; bring towels and toiletries.
Motoyu is a small, local public bath in Ibusuki’s Yunohama district, a short distance from Saraku along the road toward Wakamiya Shrine. It makes sense as a second stop after sand bathing if you still want a quieter, ordinary hot-spring soak. It is not a substitute for Saraku’s sand bath, and you do not need Motoyu simply to wash off: Saraku already has showers and indoor baths.
Adults pay ¥400; the posted hours are noon to 9 p.m., with last admission at 8:30 p.m. Men’s and women’s bathing areas each have two indoor tubs. There is no open-air bath or private room listed. Think of Motoyu as a straightforward shared bath in a wooden bathhouse, not a full-service spa.
Is Motoyu worth adding after Saraku?
The two stops offer different things. Saraku is the signature sand-bathing experience, with its own indoor bath, showers and sauna. Motoyu is a separate public bath where the appeal is the simpler local bathhouse setting and its sodium-chloride spring. Since Saraku already provides a wash-up and soak after the sand session, Motoyu is an optional second experience, not part of the sand-bath process.
Add it if you have time left, enjoy traditional communal baths and are comfortable with a modest setup. Skip it if you are tired after sand bathing, need to catch a train, or mainly want more facilities. The two venues are in the same Yunohama area, so Motoyu can fit into the same outing without turning into a trip across Ibusuki; still, leave enough time to get back to your hotel or station.
For a first visit built around sand bathing, start with the Ibusuki sand-bath first-timer’s guide. If you are choosing among several day-use baths rather than adding a second soak, the Ibusuki day-use onsen guide compares the wider area.
Current hours, prices and what the listing confirms
The Ibusuki Tourism Association currently lists Motoyu as open daily from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m., with reception ending at 8:30 p.m. It closes on Mondays, moving the closure to Tuesday when Monday is a public holiday. The association lists these admission prices:
| Visitor | Admission |
|---|---|
| Adult, junior high school age and up | ¥400 |
| Child, elementary school age and under | ¥150 |
| Preschool child | ¥50 |
The same listing says a child-rearing support pass brings the adult rate to ¥300. It also lists a ¥5,000 monthly pass and a ¥3,000 ticket book for ten visits.
If you qualify for a discount, confirm its current terms with the bath before you go. Holiday schedules or maintenance notices may change the routine, so check close to your visit—especially if you are planning around the 8:30 p.m. cutoff.
The tourism page confirms separate men’s and women’s indoor bathing areas, each with two tubs, plus air conditioning in the changing rooms. It does not publish a detailed amenities inventory for towels, soap, shampoo or hair dryers. Bring your own towel and toiletries, or call ahead if packing light: +81 993-24-2701. The facility page also does not give a tattoo policy or describe step-free access, so ask directly if either affects your decision.
Shared-bath basics
Motoyu is a communal bath, not a bookable family room. The facility’s published page does not set out a separate visitor rule sheet, so follow any signs or staff instructions on site. The local tourism association’s bathing guide recommends drinking water before bathing, rinsing before entering the tub, easing in and out slowly, and stopping to rest if you begin to sweat heavily. It also recommends taking time to recover and drinking water afterward.
That advice matters if you are going to Motoyu after a sand bath. Saraku’s sequence already includes rinsing away the sand and using its public bath. Take a break and have some water before deciding whether you want another soak; there is no prize for doing both. The association suggests resting for 30–60 minutes after bathing where possible.
Getting there
Motoyu’s address is 5-19-25 Yunohama, Ibusuki, and the facility lists parking. The tourism association places it on the “Kodakara Road” between Saraku and Wakamiya Shrine. An association guidebook describes the walk from JR Ibusuki Station as about 15 minutes; treat that as an estimate, not a timed transfer. If you have luggage, mobility concerns or a tight train connection, check a taxi or local transport rather than assuming the station walk will fit your schedule.
What the spring information does—and does not—tell you
The official listing classifies Motoyu’s water as a sodium-chloride spring and gives a figure of 73.0°C in its “spring temperature, etc.” field. That is not a posted bathing-pool temperature. The current page does not itemize dilution, heating, circulation or filtration, so those details should not be inferred from older reviews or historic spring analyses.
