Kaminoyama Onsen Public Baths: Four Neighbourhood Baths Compared
Compare four Kaminoyama public baths by station access, opening hours, prices and water temperature. Futsukamachi is nearest the station; pack shampoo for some.
Kaminoyama Onsen’s public baths are part of the town’s everyday rhythm, but they are not interchangeable. One is near the castle and old town, one is closest to the station, one stays cooler than the others, and the bath in Hayama has a split weekday schedule. The best choice usually comes down to where you are staying and whether you packed shampoo.
The old public-bath list also needs a correction: Tsurunoyu closed in February 2024. The four baths below are the current options covered by the local tourism association.
| Bath | Adult admission | Hours | What to know first |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shimooyu | ¥150; shampooing ¥100 extra | 6 a.m.–10 p.m.; opens at 6:30 a.m. in winter | Hot and warm baths; bring your own bathing supplies |
| Futsukamachi | ¥300, shampoo included | 6:30 a.m.–9:30 p.m. | Closest to Kaminoyama-Onsen Station; updated price took effect May 1, 2026 |
| Sawano-yu | ¥500 for high-school students and older | 3–9 p.m. Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat; 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Sun and holidays | Cooler round bath; closed Tuesdays and Thursdays |
| Hayama | ¥150; shampooing ¥100 extra | Weekdays and public holidays: 6–8 a.m. and 5–8 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays: 6 a.m.–8 p.m. | In the Hayama lodging area; closed Mondays and Jan. 1–3 |
If you are walking from the station: Futsukamachi
Futsukamachi is the closest of the four to Kaminoyama-Onsen Station. Since May 1, 2026, the adult ticket has been ¥300 with shampoo included.
The former arrangement—¥200 admission plus a ¥100 shampoo ticket—is no longer current. The change also brought shower faucets to all six washing stations.
Bring your own soap, towel and shampoo if you prefer a familiar product, but you do not need a separate shampoo ticket. This is the most convenient stop for a short rail layover, though the bath itself is a local public bath rather than a resort-style spa.
Shimooyu is the historic choice near the castle
Shimooyu is listed as Kaminoyama’s oldest outdoor public bath, and it sits near Kaminoyama Castle and the central old-town streets. Its adult admission is ¥150, with ¥100 for shampooing if you want to wash your hair. The second-floor rest room costs extra and is not open in winter from January through March.
The baths are divided into an atsuyu (hot bath) and a nuruyu (warm bath). You can start in the warmer-feeling option and decide whether to try the hotter pool; there is no need to follow other bathers’ lead if the temperature is too much. Shimooyu is the clearest pick if the bath is part of a walk around the castle district rather than a station transfer.
Sawano-yu is the cooler, better-equipped local bath
Sawano-yu reopened after renovation in 2022. Its round bath is listed at about 40°C in a measurement made that year, noticeably cooler than the hotter local baths. The facility supplies shampoo, conditioner, body soap and a hair dryer. One practical catch: its washing area has no shower, so check the posted instructions and be prepared to rinse using the bath-side setup.
The ¥500 price is higher than the other public baths, and its hours are narrower: 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays and public holidays. It closes Tuesdays and Thursdays. Choose it for the gentler bath temperature and supplied toiletries, not as a late-night option.
Hayama fits a stay in the lodging district
Hayama Public Bath is part of the local senior-welfare facility, in the area where many ryokan are located. The bath uses a different local spring source from the central public baths and has a view over town. Adult entry is ¥150; shampooing costs ¥100 extra, and visitors should bring soap, shampoo and a towel.
Its schedule is the main constraint. On weekdays and public holidays it opens from 6 to 8 a.m. and 5 to 8 p.m.; on Saturdays and Sundays it is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. It closes on Mondays and January 1–3. If you are staying in Hayama, the early session can fit before checkout. From elsewhere in town, the split weekday hours make an unplanned visit easy to miss.
Pack for a neighbourhood bath
Shimooyu, Futsukamachi and Hayama are inexpensive, but their low admission does not mean a hotel-style amenity set. The local listings say to bring towels and bathing supplies for the facilities that do not provide them. Futsukamachi’s new adult fee includes shampoo, while Sawano-yu lists toiletries and a dryer. Check the current signs at the bath for local etiquette and any date-specific changes.
Sources
- [Yamagata Tourism: Kaminoyama public baths and current facility details](https://www.kaminoyamasaigube.com/about-kaminoyama/onsen/) - [Kaminoyama Tourism Association: public bath listings, May 2026 Futsukamachi price change and Tsurunoyu closure](https://kaminoyama-spa.com/news/spa/2310.html) - [Yamagata Prefecture Tourism: Shimooyu](https://yamagatakanko.com/attractions/detail_10389.html) - [Yamagata Prefecture Tourism: Sawano-yu](https://yamagatakanko.com/attractions/detail_10392.html) Checked: 2026-09-27Tags: Kaminoyama Onsen, Yamagata public baths, Shimooyu, Futsukamachi, Sawano-yu, Hayama bath, day-use onsen
