Nikko Yumoto Onsen

This hot spring resort extends behind Nikko’s especially beautiful “Senjogahara” and is spread out along the shores of Lake Yunoko at the foot of Kinsei Pass, with high mountains such as Mt. Shirane looming in the background.

Here, visitors can soak in the hot springs while viewing the beautiful seasonal changes of flowers. The spring water is sulfuric, and the hot springs are said to be effective for neuralgia and rheumatism. A stay here is ideal for refreshing the body and mind.

Even amidst many modern buildings, the area has a tranquil atmosphere and welcomes many tourists as a base for skiing, camping, and mountain climbing all year round, including the season of fresh greenery and autumn leaves.

There are also well-maintained hiking trails that go around Lake Yunoko and through Yudaki Waterfall to Senjogahara and Lake Chuzenji, or to Kotoku Ranch via Lake Karigome and Lake Kirigome. Hiking trails in the midst of nature offer many enjoyments to visitors.

Numerous famous landmarks and tourist attractions are located nearby, including Nikko Toshogu Shrine, Kegon Falls, Iroha Slope, and Lake Chuzenji.

As for its history, it is said to have been discovered in 788 by Shodo Shonin, the founder of Nikko. Initially, it was used as a hot-spring cure only during the summer to cope with the cold winters.

In the Edo period (1603-1867), it was listed as one of the “Eight Chuzenji Hot Springs” in “Nikko Yamashi,” and in the Meiji period (1868-1912), it was also called “Nikko Onsen” (hot spring in Nikko).

Yumoto Onsen has a variety of spring qualities. For example, Kawarayu is extremely hot; the higher the water level in the lake, the hotter it is, and the lower the water level, the warmer it is. Yakushi-yu is effective for eye diseases, and Takiyu is very cold. These are the characteristic qualities of these springs.

Yumoto Onsen is also known as a hot spring that is effective for rheumatism and stubborn skin diseases.

In 1878, Isabella Bird visited Yumoto Onsen and wrote in a letter that she was impressed by its lively atmosphere and clean accommodations.

In 1954, Yumoto Onsen was designated as the first National Recreational Hot Spring Resort, and has become a much-loved hot spring resort for many people.

Spring Quality

Yumoto Onsen is a sulfur spring. The temperature of the spring water ranges from 49.3 to 78.9 degrees Celsius, and it is a slightly acidic hydrogen sulfide sulfur spring. Hot spring flowers float in the water and the hot spring resort area has a distinctive sulfuric aroma.

Onsen Town

The hot spring resort of Yumoto Onsen is located on the shore of Lake Yunoko and is lined with about 23 hotels and inns. Unlike the Kinugawa Onsen in Nikko City, this area has a quieter, less pleasant atmosphere. There is a footbath in the center of the area, which can be used free of charge. The entire hot spring resort still retains a unique atmosphere.

Fountainhead

The spring water sources are located in the Yunodaira marshland on the outskirts of the hot spring resort. Each spring is protected by a roof, and in addition to supplying the various ryokan in Yumoto Onsen, they are also diverted to the nearby Kotoku Onsen and the distant Chuzenji Onsen.

Onsenji Temple

Onsenji Temple, a branch temple of Rinnoji Temple on Nikkozan, is located next to the source. This temple was built in 788 by Shodo Shonin, the founder of Rinnoji Temple, when he discovered the hot spring.

The temple spread as a hot-spring cure enshrining Ruriko-norai, the Medicine Buddha, and became known as a temple under the direct control of the Rinnoji Palace during the Edo period (1603-1868), but later fell into disuse.

Today, the temple was rebuilt in 1973 by Rinnoji Temple, and hot spring water is still available.

The main deity is Yakushi Nyorai. In the inner sanctuary, hot spring water is drawn from the source to create a bathtub, which is open to all visitors as a public bathhouse for men and women. It is open from mid-April to late November.

Onsen-ji Temple Yakushi-yu

The spring is a sulfur-containing calcium-sodium-sulfate-hydrogencarbonate spring with a spring temperature of 71.4°C. The water is not heated, but rather watered. It is a completely free-flowing hot spring that is not heated but watered, and because the water is quite hot, it is not possible to enter without adding water. However, it is a hot spring with a strong composition, and its efficacy can be fully felt. The color of the spring water is a light emerald green, but it turns milky white when watered.