What to know
Shiobara Onsen (塩原温泉) is a hot spring town nestled in a forested valley about twenty kilometers south of Mount Nasudake. While it has several large hotels, the surrounding woods and mountains give it a rustic atmosphere. The town's hot springs, waterfalls, and hiking trails make it easy to connect with nature.
Shiobara Onsen is also known for its pedestrian suspension bridges that cross the river, offering lovely views of the water and forest. The scenery is especially beautiful from late October to early November during the autumn foliage season.
Below is a partial list of public hot spring baths. Many local ryokan also allow non-guests to use their baths for a small fee during the day.
Ratings: best of the best best of Japan outstanding
Hourly JR buses run from Nasu-Shiobara Station via Nishi-Nasuno Station to Shiobara Onsen (65 minutes, 1240 yen). These buses are covered by the Japan Rail Pass and JR East Pass, but not by other JR passes.
Buses also connect Shiobara Onsen to Kamimiyori Shiobaraonsenguchi Station on the Yagan Railway (25 minutes, 200 yen one way, every 1-2 hours), which provides links to Nikko, Kinugawa Onsen, and Aizu Wakamatsu. Note that neither the train nor the bus are covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
Visitor information
Practical details to check before planning this stop.
- Hours
- 9:00 to 18:00 (until 17:00 December to March)
- Closed
- Iwa no Yu is a rustic, gender mixed bath found literally along the bank of the river. Like the Fudo no Yu (see above), it is unattended and payment is by the honor system. The bath
- Admission
- 250 yen (~$1.6)
- English name
- Shiobara Onsen
- Original name
- Shiobara Onsen
Verify details before visiting. Currency conversion is indicative and may vary over time.