Hamasaka Onsen: A Retro Town Offering Relaxation, Hot Springs, and Local Delicacies

Hamasaka Onsen in northern Hyogo is a serene hot spring area surrounded by sea and mountains. With three hot springs, retro streets, and local cuisine, it’s a perfect retreat for international visitors seeking tranquility.
-
Table of Contents
- Hamasaka Onsen Village, home to three hot springs
- Introduction of day-trip hot spring facilities
- Stay overnight at "Crab Sommelier's Inn Syofuso" and enjoy crab dishes
- Access Information
Hamasaka Onsen Village, home to three hot springs

Shinonsen Town, located in the northwestern tip of Hyogo Prefecture, exactly in the center of San'in Kaigan National Park, has three hot springs: Hamasaka Onsen, Nanakama Onsen, and Futsukaichi Onsen. These are collectively called the Hamasaka Onsen area.
Nanakama Onsen was discovered in 1962. The following year, Futsukaichi Onsen was dug, and in 1978, Hamasaka Onsen was discovered by chance.
In 1991, Hamasaka Onsenkyo was registered as a national hot spring resort .

The gateway to Hamasaka Onsenkyo is Hamasaka Station, where Hamasaka Onsen is located. About a 20-minute bus ride from Hamasaka Station is Yumura Onsen, which was founded 1,200 years ago.
Spring quality and characteristics

The three hot springs in Hamasaka Onsenkyo each have different spring qualities.
Hamasaka Onsen is a chloride spring with a high heat retention effect, while Nanakama Onsen and Futsukaichi Onsen are sulfate springs that are said to be effective for minor cuts and burns.
Hamasaka Onsen has an abundant supply of hot water, with pipes laid throughout the town, distributing it to approximately 700 homes, including inns, guesthouses, public baths, and ordinary homes.
In addition to inns and guesthouses, Shichikama Onsen also has a hot spring bathing facility called "Yurakukan."
Futsukaichi Onsen is not open to the public, but is used by medical and welfare facilities such as hospitals and nursing homes for the elderly.
Enjoy a stroll around Hamasaka Onsen Village! Soak in the hot springs, drink, and enjoy the foot baths.

The charm of Hamasaka Onsenkyo is its traditional townscape, where people still live. The best way to enjoy sightseeing is to stroll through the narrow, winding alleys, wooden houses, and beautiful flowing streams!
As you'd expect from a hot spring town, there are foot baths and drinking fountains on every street corner, so you can easily enjoy the hot springs.

Besides the hot springs, there are also many other long-standing local industries, such as fishing, agriculture, and even a needle factory that makes record needles. Unlike tourist hot spring towns, you can get a feel for how the locals live in this lovely, old-fashioned, idyllic atmosphere.

Another attraction of Hamasaka Onsenkyo is the sea.
The beach is a 15-minute walk from Hamasaka Station. The pine forest and white sandy coastline stretch out along the coast, and the clear blue water is perfect for swimming. After swimming, it feels great to stop by a hot spring bathing facility to wash off the sweat!

One of the charms of Hamasaka Onsenkyo is that you can enjoy seasonal flavors all year round. Roadside Station San'in Coast Geopark Hamasaka no Sato, near Shichikama Onsen, is a treasure trove of local specialties, including the famous chikuwa (fish paste) and world-renowned Tajima beef.
Introduction of day-trip hot spring facilities
Hamasaka Onsen and Shichigama Onsen have four hot spring bathing facilities that can be used for day trips. We will introduce the features of each facility and the bathing fees.
[Hamasaka Onsen] Utopia Hamasaki

"Utopia Hamasaka" is a hot spring facility that is popular with locals. The bathing fee is reasonable at 500 yen for adults and 250 yen for children. (300 yen for adults and 150 yen for children who live in the town.)

In the large public bath, you can enjoy a vibrating bath with fine bubbles and a jet bath. The source temperature of the water is about 70 degrees, and the salt on the surface of the body increases the heat retention, so it is a hot spring that does not cool down easily.

There is a "boiling area" in one corner of the parking lot where you can make your own hot spring eggs. It takes about 30 minutes in summer and 60 minutes in winter to make and eat delicious hot spring eggs. Eggs are not sold at the facility, so please purchase them at a nearby supermarket. You can borrow a "basket" to put the eggs in and soak them in the hot spring.
[Hamasaka Onsen] Hamasaka Coast Recreation Center Matsu no Yu

"Matsu no Yu" is a simple lodging facility with a hot spring bath that can be used for at least two hours. It is the closest hot spring bathing facility to the beach, making it convenient for stopping by for a bath while swimming or camping.

The fee varies depending on the length of stay, but the cheapest plan is 2 hours, costing 300 yen for adults and 150 yen for children (200 yen for adults and 100 yen for children within the town).
Accommodation costs 2,250 yen for adults and 1,120 yen for children (1,500 yen for adults and 750 yen for children for town residents). Although it is only a lodging facility, self-catering facilities are provided and it is also available for group use such as training camps.
[Hamasaka Onsen] Hamasaka Onsen Hoyoso

Hamasaka Onsen Hoyoso is a hot spring facility where you can stay overnight or take a day trip to bathe.
The entire building is equipped with ramps and handrails, and there is also an assistant bathroom with a lift, so wheelchair users and those who require assistance with bathing can use the facility with peace of mind.

One of the highlights of the baths is the open-air bath with a view of the surrounding mountains.
The accommodation plan that includes an authentic kaiseki meal is popular, and in winter you can also enjoy a course meal of snow crab.
The fee for a day trip to the baths is 500 yen for adults and 250 yen for children. The fee for a one-night stay with two meals varies depending on the meal options, but the general rate starts from 9,180 yen.
[Shichigama Onsen] Yurakukan

"Yurakukan" is a day-trip hot spring bathing facility where you can enjoy 100% free-flowing hot spring water. The temperature is about 50 degrees, which is perfect for bathing, and there is no need to add water or heat it.

In addition to the large public bath, there is an open-air stone bath and a multi-purpose bath that can be rented for private use.

The fee is 700 yen for adults and 400 yen for children. The multi-purpose bath is 2,400 yen for up to three adults (45 minutes use) (500 yen for adults and 300 yen for children living in the town).
Business hours are from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm, so it's nice that you can use it even late at night.

About a 10-minute walk away is the foot bath "Shirasagi no Yu" run by the locals, so why not stop by? You can also drink the spring water.
Stay overnight at "Crab Sommelier's Inn Syofuso" and enjoy crab dishes

Syofuso is an inn where you can enjoy Hamasaka's winter delicacy, Matsuba crab, as part of a course meal. Syofuso retains the atmosphere of a traditional Japanese house, with an irori hearth and tatami rooms, so even if it's your first time here, you'll feel at ease and at home, and you'll be able to relax from the bottom of your heart.
The restaurant is popular for its dishes that allow you to enjoy local seafood such as firefly squid, mosaebi shrimp, and turban shells caught in Hamasaka. In particular, there are many regular customers who come in winter to try Hamasaka's Matsuba crab.

Starting with crab sashimi, the meal continues with crab tempura, grilled crab, crab hotpot, and finishes with flavorful crab rice porridge - a full course meal filled with crab!
Extremely fresh crabs have meat that is tightly attached to the shell. It takes a little skill to remove the meat neatly, but don't worry, a "crab sommelier" will help you out!

The crab sommelier is a qualification system created for the proprietresses of inns and guesthouses with the aim of spreading the appeal of Hamasaka's specialty Matsuba crab. These specialists are not only experts in crab selection and cooking techniques, but also have a thorough understanding of Hamasaka's history and culture.
The proprietress of Syofuso is one of them. Her light-hearted words, filled with love for crab and Hamasaka, were the ultimate seasoning to make the delicious crab even more delicious.
After the meal, we went to the hot springs.
At Syofuso, we recommend taking a bath at the day-trip hot spring facility "Utopia Hamasaka," which is a 4-minute walk away. (Free bath tickets available.)
While you're there, why not try on one of the colorful yukatas provided in your room and enjoy a stroll around Hamasaka?
Access Information

The gateway to Hamasaka Onsenkyo is Hamasaka Station. There are various ways to get there, including by train, bus, and plane.
We will introduce the main ways to access the area from Osaka and Tokyo, as well as the travel times required.
How to get there by train from Osaka
If you take the express train from Osaka Station, the journey will be smoother, but be aware that there are few trains. You will need a limited express ticket and a reserved seat ticket to board the train.
・ Take the "Limited Express Hamakaze" from Osaka Station and get off at Hamasaka Station. (Travel time: 3 hours 45 minutes)
・ Take the "Super Hakuto Express" from Osaka Station, change at Tottori Station, and get off at Hamasaka Station. (Travel time: 3 hours 37 minutes)
・ Take the "Kounotori" Limited Express from Osaka Station, change at Kinosaki Onsen Station, and get off at Hamasaka Station. (Travel time: 3 hours 46 minutes)
How to get there by plane from Osaka
From Osaka (Itami) Airport, go to Kounotori Tajima Airport in Hyogo, then take a limousine bus to Toyooka Station. Transfer to a train at Toyooka Station and get off at Hamasaka Station. (Travel time: about 2 hours 30 minutes)
How to get there by highway bus from Osaka
Take a highway bus from Osaka and get off at Yumura Onsen. Take a local bus from Yakushiyu stop and get off at Hamasaka stop. (Travel time: about 3 hours 30 minutes)
How to get there by rental car from Osaka
From Osaka to Hamasaka, take the expressway and get off at Shinonsen Hamasaka IC (travel time: about 3 hours and 10 minutes).
From Tokyo by train
Take the Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo Station and get off at Himeji Station. Transfer to the Super Haku express train and head to Hamasaka Station via Tottori. (Travel time: 6 hours 19 minutes)
How to get there by plane from Tokyo
Take a flight from Haneda Airport to Tottori Airport, then take a limousine bus to Tottori Station. Transfer to a train at Tottori Station and get off at Hamasaka Station. (Travel time: about 5 hours)
Hamasaka Onsenkyo is not an easily accessible location, but it is well worth the time and effort to visit.
From the window of the express train from Osaka, you can see famous tourist spots and beautiful scenery such as Himeji Castle, Kinosaki Onsen, and the Sea of Japan, so be sure to enjoy your travel time!
National hot spring resorts are designated by the Minister of the Environment under the Hot Springs Act as healthy hot spring resorts where the benefits of hot spring use are expected to be sufficient. 79 hot spring resorts have been designated nationwide (as of October 2024). National hot spring resorts are selected based on the following criteria. 1. Conditions regarding the quality and volume of hot spring water (1) The source of the hot spring water used must be a therapeutic spring. (2) The hot spring water used must have an abundant volume of water. The standard volume of water flow must be 0.5 liters per minute or more per hot spring user. 2. Conditions regarding the environment of the hot spring resort (1) The hot spring is suitable as a resort from the perspective of the natural environment, townscape, history, climate, culture, etc. (2) A plan for the placement of doctors who can provide guidance on proper hot spring use and health management from a medical perspective, or a plan for the placement or training policy of personnel who can provide guidance on bathing methods, etc. in cooperation with the doctors, must be established. (3) Appropriate efforts will be made to protect hot spring resources, manage the hygiene of hot springs, promote public use of hot springs, and take into consideration the elderly and disabled, etc. (4) Enhanced efforts to prevent disasters.
The contents on this page may partially contain automatic translation.