What kind of place is Misasa Onsen?
Misasa Onsen is an ancient hot spring that wells up along the Mitoku River in Misasa Town, Tottori Prefecture. It is known as one of the world’s richest hot springs in radon (radium) content, and is said to be so versatile that you can “soak in it, drink it, and breathe it in.” Drawn by the hope of a hormesis effect, said to boost immunity and enhance the body’s natural healing power, many people come for an onsen cure from both within Japan and abroad.
The spring is said to have been opened around 850 years ago, and a legend remains that it was discovered when a white wolf was found bathing in the waters. On the riverbed of the Mitoku River, which flows through the heart of the onsen town, there is a free open-air bath, the “Kawara-buro” (riverbed bath), a beloved local landmark where you can bathe while listening to the murmur of the river.
Around the Misasa Bridge, the onsen town is lined with inns and souvenir shops, where you can enjoy a stroll through a hot spring town full of character. Nearby is Mitokusan Sanbutsu-ji, which enshrines the National Treasure Nageiredo, so you can take in the whole of central Tottori by combining the onsen with a temple visit.
Highlights
- Kawara-buro (riverbed bath) — An open-air bath welling up on the riverbed of the Mitoku River. It’s free to use, and you can bathe while listening to the sound of the river
- A stroll in yukata — Staying at an inn in the onsen town and strolling in a yukata is the Misasa way. Charming alleyways stretch on and on
- The onsen town around Misasa Bridge — The central area where inns, souvenir shops, and eateries gather. Footbaths are dotted here and there too
- Radium hot spring — Spring waters with one of the world’s highest radon contents. There are facilities where you can drink and inhale the waters as well
- Mitokusan Sanbutsu-ji (Nageiredo) — Mt. Mitoku, located close to the onsen. The National Treasure Nageiredo is known as a structure built into a sheer cliff
Time needed, fees, and access
Just strolling the onsen town takes one to two hours. If you stay overnight and include a walk the next morning, it makes for a leisurely trip.
Access
- About 40 minutes by local bus from Kurayoshi Station (Hinomaru Bus, Misasa Line)
- About 25 minutes by car from the Kurayoshi IC on the Tottori Expressway
Location: Misasa, Misasa Town, Tōhaku District, Tottori Prefecture
For the latest information on the Kawara-buro’s status, lodging facilities, access, and more, please check the official website.
Who this is for
- Those who want to soak in an onsen and spend time at a relaxed pace
- Those who want to stroll a historic onsen town in a yukata
- Those who want to visit alongside central Tottori sights such as Nageiredo
Places to drop by nearby
Within driving distance of Misasa Onsen is Kurayoshi’s district of white-walled storehouses (kurayoshi-shirakabe). It’s a charming townscape spreading out at the foot of Mt. Utsubuki, so you can enjoy central Tottori as a whole by pairing it with the onsen.
For all the spots in the area, please see the map.
