Kirishima Onsen

What to know

Kirishima Onsen (霧島温泉) sits on the lower slopes of the Kirishima Mountains, offering distant views of Kagoshima Bay and Sakurajima. It is one of Japan's premier hot spring resorts, known for high-quality sulfuric waters and a diverse range of excellent bathing facilities.

The Kirishima Onsen area is quite extensive, comprising over a dozen individual hot springs. Among them, Maruo Onsen is the largest and serves as the main resort town, with a high concentration of ryokan and hotels. More ryokan and hotels of various sizes are scattered throughout the area.

Visitors can enjoy the thermal waters by staying at a local ryokan or visiting a public bath. Many ryokan also open their bathing facilities to day-trippers for typically 500–1200 yen. Below is a list of some of Kirishima Onsen's best baths:

Ratings: best of the best best of Japan outstanding

Public transportation around Kirishima Onsen declined significantly during the coronavirus pandemic and has not recovered. As a result, the best way to explore is by rental car. Rental car outlets are available in Miyazaki, Miyakonojo, Kagoshima, and at Kagoshima Airport.

The most useful bus line connects JR Kirishima Jingu Station with Maruo Onsen (30 minutes, 650 yen, departures every 1–4 hours) via Kirishima Shrine, terminating at the Kirishima Iwasaki Hotel. Additionally, a bus line runs from Kagoshima Airport (35 minutes, 870 yen, departures every 1–4 hours) to Maruo Onsen and onward to the Kirishima Iwasaki Hotel. Another bus line connects Kirishima Shrine with JR Miyakonojo Station (70 minutes, 1260 yen, every 2–5 hours) in Miyazaki Prefecture.