Kume-no-Yu or Himehiko Onsen? A Matsuyama Bath Comparison
Compare Kume-no-Yu and Himehiko Onsen in Matsuyama by admission, late-night hours, private baths, spring information and access.
Kume-no-Yu and Himehiko Onsen are both day-use baths in eastern Matsuyama, and both stay open overnight. For a low-cost visit by train, Kume-no-Yu is the simpler choice: adult admission is ¥600, the public-bath ticket includes the sauna, and Kume Station is a three-minute walk away. Himehiko costs ¥700 on weekdays or ¥750 on weekends and holidays, but adds a sizeable range of private rooms for people who want to bathe together.
| Kume-no-Yu | Himehiko Onsen | |
|---|---|---|
| Public-bath hours | 11 a.m.–9 a.m. next day; closed 9–11 a.m. | 9 a.m.–7 a.m. next day |
| Adult admission | ¥600; ¥500 for the 4–9 a.m. early bath | ¥700 weekdays; ¥750 weekends and holidays |
| Private bathing | No private room listed | 20 private rooms; examples start at ¥3,000 |
| Getting there | Three-minute walk from Kume Station | Three-minute walk from Handa-ji-guchi bus stop; taxi about five minutes from Kume Station |
Hours, admission and room prices were checked against the operators’ pages on September 28, 2026. Both venues may post special notices, so confirm before making a late-night trip.
For a simple, inexpensive soak, Kume-no-Yu
Kume-no-Yu keeps its public bath open for 22 hours, from 11 a.m. until 9 a.m. the following day. It closes for two hours each morning, then reopens at 11. The regular adult ticket is ¥600 and includes the sauna; body soap, shampoo and a hair dryer are provided. Towels are not listed among the included items, so bring your own or check what is available at reception.
The early-bath rate is ¥500 from 4 to 9 a.m. That makes it particularly useful if you are already staying nearby or have a reason to be out early. The railway connection is straightforward: get off at Kume Station on the Iyotetsu Yokogawara Line and walk about three minutes. The first train still matters, of course; the bath’s opening hours do not mean public transport runs all night.
Kume-no-Yu also publishes more detail about its spring and water treatment than Himehiko’s site. Its listed source data include a temperature of 39.8°C and pH 9.06 for sources No. 6 and No. 8. The operator says it does not add water, does heat the spring, recirculates and filters it, and uses chlorine-based disinfection. Those figures are source data, not a claim that every bath runs at the source temperature or uses one identical supply.
Himehiko is the one to look at for a private room
Himehiko’s public bath runs 9 a.m.–7 a.m. the next day. Shampoo and body soap are supplied; bring a towel or buy one there.
| Bath or room | Price | Session |
|---|---|---|
| Adult public bath, weekday / weekend or holiday | ¥700 / ¥750 | — |
| Early bath, 4–7 a.m. or 9–11 a.m. | ¥500 | — |
| Koyamaki private room | ¥3,000 | 90 minutes |
| Matere private room | ¥3,000 | 60 minutes |
| Private room with sauna and cold plunge | From ¥3,500 | 60 minutes |
The inn lists 20 private rooms with different layouts. These are room charges, not per-person rates; extra guests may cost more. Check the selected room’s details before booking.
Private rooms can be reserved on weekdays, but not in advance on weekends or public holidays. Reception runs from 9 a.m. to midnight. Himehiko says that guests who complete check-in by midnight may finish their booked use afterward, so midnight is the last reception time—not a blanket checkout deadline.
Himehiko describes its spring as an alkaline simple hot spring drawn from about 1,000 metres underground. Its current public information does not give a numerical source temperature or pH, or spell out the treatment process for each bath. Kume-no-Yu is the easier one to assess if published source figures and handling details matter to your choice; the missing figures on Himehiko’s site should not be read as evidence that its water is untreated or inferior.
The route may decide it
Kume-no-Yu is close to the rail network, while Himehiko is easier to reach by bus or car. Himehiko lists the Handa-ji-guchi stop as a three-minute walk and says Kume Station is about five minutes away by taxi; it also has 150 free parking spaces. If you are going late, check the return timetable before bathing. Both places are open well past the last train, but that does not guarantee a ride home.
Both facilities prohibit guests with tattoos, according to their visitor rules. Check each operator’s current policy if this affects your plans.
If you are choosing among several city baths, the Matsuyama onsen and sento guide covers other neighborhoods and facilities. There is also a Matsuyama late-night and early-morning onsen guide for comparing bathing windows across the city. For a closer look at private-room options, see the Matsuyama family private-bath guide.
