A rare urban hot spring that wells up just minutes from the prefectural capital's main station.
Tottori Onsen is an unusually urban hot spring that wells up in the very heart of the city, just a few minutes' walk from JR Tottori Station — a rarity in Japan. The spring is said to have been discovered by chance during excavation of a drinking-water well in the Taisho era, and for over 100 years since, it has been a beloved retreat for local residents and travelers alike.
The spring is a sodium-sulfate and chloride type, characterized by mineral-rich water that is gentle on the skin. Inns and public bathhouses with their own source springs are scattered throughout the hot spring quarter, making it easy to stop in for a bath after sightseeing at the sand dunes or Tottori Castle ruins.
Thanks to its unique setting in the midst of the prefectural capital's downtown, day-trip bathing is as easy as an overnight stay. Tottori Onsen is recommended as a base for exploring Tottori, where visitors can unwind in the city-center hot spring after a full day of sightseeing.