Akino no Yu in Uda: Spring Quality, Prices and Access from Haibara
Akino no Yu’s alkaline spring is pH 9.56 at source; adult entry is ¥750 weekdays or ¥800 weekends, with a bus and 13-minute walk from Haibara.
From Kintetsu Haibara Station, take the bus to Ōuda and walk about 13 minutes.
Akino no Yu is easiest to fit into a day around Uda, Ōuda, Hase-dera or Murō. It has two bathing layouts that rotate by date, saunas and Bade pools, so there is more to do than take a quick soak. The spring is used without dilution, but it is heated and circulated; that distinction matters if you are looking specifically for untreated, continuously flowing water.
Admission, towels and opening hours
| Detail | Current information |
|---|---|
| Adult admission | ¥750 weekdays; ¥800 weekends and public holidays |
| Children | ¥370 weekdays; ¥400 weekends and public holidays |
| Under 3 | Free |
| Student rate | ¥500 on weekdays for junior-high, high-school, university and vocational students with ID |
| Hours | 10 a.m.–9 p.m. |
| Last reception | 8:30 p.m. |
| Regular closure | Third Thursday of each month; open when it falls on a public holiday |
Shampoo, body wash, toner, cotton swabs and hair dryers are provided. A face towel costs ¥150; a face towel plus bath-towel rental is ¥350. With no towel of your own, an adult’s minimum practical spend is ¥1,100 on a weekday or ¥1,150 on a weekend or public holiday.
What the spring figures tell you
The operator lists a source temperature of 31.4°C, pH 9.56 and a flow rate of 180 litres per minute. The spring is classified as an alkaline simple hot spring, low in dissolved minerals and low-temperature at the source. These figures describe the source water, not the temperature of every bathing pool.
Akino no Yu says it does not dilute the source, but does heat and circulate the water for temperature and hygiene management. It is fair to call this an undiluted natural spring; it would be misleading to describe the whole facility as untreated free-flow bathing.
The bathing layout changes by date
There are two sides: the Japanese-style Yamabuki bath and the Western-style Adayaka bath. They usually switch between men and women on alternate dates, though the operator says the arrangement may change. The Japanese-style side includes an outdoor rock bath, cypress bath, herbal bath using local Yamato angelica, bubble and jet baths, and a cold plunge. The Western-style side has twin outdoor baths, an herbal bath, electric and bubble baths, jet baths and a cold plunge. Both sides have sauna facilities.
If you have your heart set on one layout, check the date-based rotation before you go and allow for a possible operational change. Tattoos and tattoo stickers or painted designs are not allowed. A child may enter the opposite-sex bath with a guardian only if the child is below elementary-school age.
Bade pools: the outdoor season has ended for 2026
The indoor Bade pool is listed as open year-round and uses Akino no Yu’s natural spring water. The outdoor Bade area is seasonal and required swimwear. The operator’s 2026 notice set its season through September 23, so it is no longer part of a late-September visit. Check the facility’s latest notice for any later reopening dates; don’t assume the outdoor pool runs all year just because the indoor one does.
Getting there from Haibara
Kintetsu Haibara is the nearest rail station. Take a bus bound for Ōuda to the last stop, Ōuda (Roadside Station Udaji Ōuda), then walk about 13 minutes. The final stretch is manageable, but this is not a station-front bath. Pair it with time in the old Ōuda district or another Uda-area stop rather than making the round trip from central Nara for a short soak.
Drivers can park for free. The operator estimates about 30 minutes from Hari Interchange, 15 minutes from Haibara Station, 40 minutes from Nabari Station and 20 minutes from Sakurai Station; allow extra time for traffic and local road conditions.
For another southern Nara option, Kamokimi no Yu in Gose has bookable private baths. Himeshi no Yu in Mitsue is a better fit for an eastern Nara or Nabari itinerary, though its private baths have specific eligibility requirements.
Cleaning and upkeep
Recent visitor feedback describes the facility as generally clean, while some guests note that parts of the building feel dated. The scores below are editorial ratings, not operator measurements.
A seven-point snapshot
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Bathing comfort | 85 |
| Variety | 90 |
| Cleanliness | 85 |
| Atmosphere | 85 |
| Quiet | 75 |
| Access | 65 |
| Value | 90 |
See the Akino no Yu facility profile.
Which visit makes sense?
Choose Akino no Yu when you have time for its rotating baths and can build in the bus ride plus final walk. Its source-water figures are clearly published, but the water is heated and circulated. For a simpler low-cost bath with a daytime station shuttle, compare Miharuen; for reservable private bathing, Kamokimi no Yu is the more relevant option.
