Shigi no Yu: Prices, Spring Quality and the Last Leg from Ōji
Shigi no Yu costs ¥900 on weekdays and ¥950 on weekends; adults pay ¥500 on the 26th. From Oji, the bus stop still leaves a short taxi ride to the bath.
Shigi no Yu makes the most sense as part of a day around Mount Shigi or Shigisan Nodoka Mura. Both bathing sides have indoor pools, an outdoor bath and a cypress-built sauna, while the on-site restaurant gives you a reason to stay a little longer. It is less straightforward by public transport than the price list might suggest: buses reach Shigisanmon, but the facility’s directions call for a taxi for the final five minutes.
On the 26th of each month, adult admission drops to ¥500 and the child rate to ¥200. The date-specific offer can be worth planning around, but check the facility’s current notice in case the date or operation changes.
Admission, towels and hours
| Detail | Adults | Children aged 4 through elementary school |
|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | ¥900 | ¥500 |
| Weekends and public holidays | ¥950 | ¥550 |
| Monthly bath day, the 26th | ¥500 | ¥200 |
| Six-visit ticket, weekdays only | ¥4,500 | — |
| Combination ticket | Weekday | Weekend / public holiday | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shigi no Yu + Nodoka Mura | ¥1,400 adult | ¥1,450 adult | January–November; ¥100 less than separate adult admission |
Buy it when Nodoka Mura is already part of your day; it does not reduce the bath-only fare.
The bath is open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.; last reception is 9:30 p.m. It closes on Mondays, except when Monday is a public holiday, in which case it opens and closes the following Tuesday. The restaurant, Shigi Meshi, is open 11 a.m.–9 p.m. The ticket machine accepts cash only, so bring yen even if you normally pay by card.
Shampoo, conditioner and body wash are supplied. Bring your own towels or buy them at the facility: a face towel costs ¥200 and a bath towel ¥450. An adult arriving on a weekday with no towels should budget ¥1,550 for admission and both towels.
What is in the bathing area
Each side has three indoor pools, one of which is a cold plunge, plus an outdoor bath and a cypress sauna. The layout is compact compared with a large urban super-sento; the draw is the combination of a natural spring, outdoor bathing, sauna and hillside setting rather than a long menu of specialty pools.
The operator classifies the water as a weakly alkaline simple hot spring. Its public pages do not publish a precise pH, source temperature, flow rate or enough treatment detail to label any pool as free-flow. Those figures should not be filled in from another nearby inn’s spring analysis.
Tattoos, painted designs and tattoo stickers are all listed among the reasons for refusing entry. The rules do not offer a published cover-patch exception.
Getting there: plan for a taxi after the bus
From JR Ōji Station or Kintetsu Shigisan-shita Station, take a Nara Kotsu bus to Shigisanmon, then continue by taxi for about five minutes. The same final taxi leg applies to the route via Kintetsu Shigisan-guchi, cable car and Takayama. Check the bus in both directions and arrange the taxi leg before setting out; this is not a station-to-bath walk.
The facility says Nodoka Mura’s dedicated shuttle bus cannot be used by Shigi no Yu visitors. Shigi no Yu does have a limited local pickup service, but it is for groups of five to 13, must be booked at least three days ahead and covers an area within about five kilometres. It is not a walk-up shuttle for solo travellers or couples.
Drivers can reach the area from Hōryūji or Kashiba interchanges in about 30 minutes. Free parking is available. Shigi Meshi has 68 seats and serves set meals, noodles, rice bowls and children’s meals, making a bath-and-dinner stop more practical when you are already in the Shigi area.
For a more direct public-transport approach from Ōji and Gojō, compare Niji no Yu Nishiyamato. If you would rather stay near Nara City, Kashihara Pokapoka Onsen is closer to a train station.
Both baths have the same weekday adult admission. Shigi no Yu has a weakly alkaline spring, outdoor bath and cypress sauna in the hills; Niji no Yu is easier to reach from the Ōji area and lists more sauna types.
| Shigi no Yu rating | Score |
|---|---|
| Comfort / variety / upkeep | 85 / 70 / 85 |
| Atmosphere / quiet / access / value | 90 / 80 / 45 / 90 |
See the Shigi no Yu profile for spring details.
