Kehoji no Yu in Deyu Onsen: What Changed at the New Bathhouse?
Kehoji no Yu reopened in Deyu Onsen at ¥600, with washing stations in both baths. Check limited bus service and return times before leaving Suibara.
Deyu Onsen is the quietest-feeling corner of Agano’s Gozu Onsenkyo, a small hot-spring area made up of Deyu, Imaita and Murasugi. Its appeal has long been the local bathing culture and relatively gentle water, not a big resort atmosphere. The old Kehoji communal bath closed on April 5, 2026; the replacement, Kehoji no Yu, opened nearby on April 15.
Admission is ¥600 for adults and ¥300 for elementary-school children.
The bath is open from 8 am to 6 pm, with last admission at 5:30 pm.
Both bathing areas now have washing stations, a useful change for visitors who found the former bath too bare-bones. The upgrade keeps the focus on a simple soak rather than turning the place into a spa complex.
The new building is easier for first-time visitors
The previous bath was a small, traditional communal facility. Older pages still describe its ¥200–¥250 admission, 6 am opening, limited facilities and water around 38°C. Those details belong to the former building. They are not current prices or a confirmed temperature specification for the new bath.
Agano’s tourism association says the new facility preserves the spring’s character while adding washing areas to both the men’s and women’s baths. Its published overview identifies the water as an alkaline simple spring. It does not list a sauna, outdoor bath or the kind of extra facilities you would expect at a large day spa, so go for a quiet bath rather than a full afternoon of entertainment.
The association calls it a warm-water bath, but has not published a new, precise source temperature or a fixed tub temperature. The old bath’s reported 38°C reading should not be carried over as if it were measured in the new building. The same goes for detailed filling, heating and disinfection arrangements: check the posted notices or ask the facility if those specifics matter to you.
Getting there without a car takes a little planning
The nearest rail access is Suibara Station on the JR Uetsu Line. Agano City’s Gozu Onsenkyo bus runs between the station area and the hot-spring stops, including Deyu Onsen. It is a local route, not a frequent shuttle. Read the timetable for your travel date before setting out, and plan the return first; the city’s published timetable has only a handful of useful departures across the day.
By car, the tourism listing gives roughly 20 minutes from Yasuda IC. The new bath lists parking for 15 vehicles. That is enough for a small local facility, but it does not guarantee an open space on a busy weekend.
Who should choose Kehoji no Yu?
It suits travellers who want to see a small onsen district and prefer a simple public bath to a hotel day-use package. The washing stations make it less intimidating than the former bath, while the ¥600 admission remains modest. If you need a sauna, a large outdoor bathing area or extensive lounge facilities, choose somewhere else.
For a no-car day out, check whether the limited bus schedule leaves enough time for the bath and a return to Suibara. Deyu, Imaita and Murasugi look close on a map, but do not assume that you can hop between them whenever you like.
Sources
- [Agano Tourism Association: Kehoji no Yu opening notice and current admission](https://agano-spot.com/archives/2563) - [Agano City: Gozu Onsenkyo bus routes and timetable](https://www.city.agano.niigata.jp/soshiki/somuka/1/2/2708.html) - [Agano City: overview of municipal buses](https://www.city.agano.niigata.jp/kurashi_tetsuzuki/doro_kotsu/kokyokotsu/2/4911.html) - [Gozu Onsenkyo: Deyu Onsen](https://gozu.jp/about/)Checked: September 27, 2026
Tags: Deyu Onsen, Kehoji no Yu, Agano onsen, Gozu Onsenkyo, Niigata day-use onsen, Niigata without a car
