Maruko Onsenkyo Day-Use Baths: Monju, Takanashi, Reisenji and Oshio
Compare four public baths in Maruko Onsenkyo by current admission, opening hours, spring-water details and the transport trade-offs from Ueda.
Maruko Onsenkyo groups four small public baths around western Ueda: Monju no Yu in Kakeyu, Takanashi in Nishiu, Reisenji and Oshio. They all keep admission inexpensive, but the visitor information is uneven. For an unfamiliar area, that difference matters as much as the ¥100 between the highest and lowest ticket.
A quick comparison
| Bath | Adult admission | Posted hours | What stands out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monju no Yu, Kakeyu | ¥350 | 9 a.m.–9 p.m.; no regular closing day listed | Two indoor pools and one outdoor pool for each sex; most complete official visitor information |
| Takanashi Public Bath | ¥250 | 6 a.m.–9 p.m.; no regular closing day in the city ordinance | Earliest opening, but few current visitor details beyond the municipal rules |
| Reisenji Public Bath | ¥250 | 7 a.m.–9 p.m.; no regular closing day listed | One indoor pool for each sex; the city and tourism association describe the bath as source-fed, with the latter specifying 100% flow-through |
| Oshio Onsen Hall | ¥250 | 2 p.m.–9 p.m.; closed on the 15th and 30th | The source is about 36°C, so the city says it is heated; in winter, it recommends arriving around 5 p.m. |
Children’s rates differ. Monju charges ¥200 for elementary-school children and admits preschoolers free. The other three municipal baths list ¥100 for elementary and middle-school students and free entry for preschool children. Check age categories and payment details at the facility before travelling.
For a first visit without a car, start with Monju
Monju sits beside the Gotaibashi bridge on the way to Monju Hall. Ueda City lists its five high-temperature sources as blended and adjusted before delivery to the bath; it classifies the water as a simple thermal spring. The city’s current facility page lists two indoor baths and one outdoor bath for each sex, admission of ¥350, and opening hours of 9 a.m.–9 p.m. There is no regular closing day listed.
There is also a direct Ueda–Matsumoto bus that stops at Kakeyu Onsen on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays during fiscal year 2026. It runs twice each way per day and does not require a reservation.
Chikuma Bus lists these adult fares from Ueda Station to Kakeyu:
| Travel date | Fare |
|---|---|
| Through September 30, 2026 | ¥600 |
| From October 1, 2026 | ¥700 |
The direct bus does not run on weekdays, so check the ordinary Kakeyu Line if your trip falls midweek. Drivers should use the Kakeyu Onsen Exchange Center car park, about a five-minute walk from Monju.
Takanashi is early, but confirm the practical details
Takanashi opens at 6 a.m., an hour before Reisenji. Ueda City’s joint-bath ordinance confirms the address, opening hours, no regular closing day and the ¥250/¥100/free admission schedule. It does not give a useful current description of the bathing facilities, amenities, parking or visitor reception procedure.
That makes Takanashi a reasonable choice if you are already staying nearby and can ask your lodging to confirm how to use it. It is a less certain first stop if you are coming from Ueda specifically for a dawn bath. I found no current official confirmation of its water treatment, so I have not labelled it a source-flow-through bath based on older visitor observations.
Reisenji for the clearest source-water claim; Oshio later in the day
Reisenji is the quietest-feeling option on paper: one indoor bath for each sex, no regular closing day, and a free car park beside Reisenji Temple. Ueda City lists current hours as 7 a.m.–9 p.m. and the adult rate as ¥250. The city calls the bath source-fed; the Ueda tourism association is more explicit and says it is 100% flow-through. Neither source publishes current individual-bath temperatures or a full water analysis, so don’t infer those from the flow-through description.
Oshio opens at 2 p.m., later than the others, and has two indoor baths for each sex. The city’s current page says its source is around 36°C and is heated. In winter it recommends arriving at about 5 p.m., when the bath should have reached a more comfortable temperature. That is a more useful planning cue than treating opening time as the ideal arrival time.
Plan around the bus, not the map distance
The baths are spread across several small valleys, and a map can make a multi-stop day look easier than it is. Without a car, Monju has the clearest weekend bus option. The direct service only runs on weekends and holidays; local routes and fares change, and the regular fare from Ueda to Kakeyu increases on October 1, 2026. For Reisenji, Takanashi and Oshio, check the day’s bus timetable or arrange a taxi before counting on a transfer.
If you have a car and want two baths, Reisenji in the morning followed by Oshio later is a workable sequence. Leave time between soaks, and avoid making the visit a race to tick off all four. For other inexpensive public baths with a wider choice of facilities, compare the seven baths in Togura-Kamiyamada.
