Yunomine Onsen and Tsubo-yu: Ultimate Healing at a World Heritage Hot Spring

Yunomine Onsen in Hongu, Tanabe City, Wakayama is one of Japan's oldest hot spring resorts with approximately 1,800 years of history. Registered as part of the UNESCO World Heritage "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range," pilgrims walking the Kumano Kodo have long eased their fatigue in its waters.

Tsubo-yu: The World's Only UNESCO World Heritage-Listed Public Bath

The biggest attraction of Yunomine Onsen is "Tsubo-yu." This small bathing tub utilizes hot spring water gushing from rocks along the Otonase River, a tiny bath house accommodating only 2-3 people at a time. As the world's only public bath inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, bathing operates on a 30-minute rotation reservation system.

The Mystery of Changing Water Colors

The waters of Yunomine Onsen have the mysterious characteristic of changing color throughout the day. Said to change color seven times daily — milky white, bluish white, transparent and more — locals call it "the seven-colored water." The rich mineral content of the sulfur spring brings various skin benefits.

Strolling the Hot Spring Town

The small hot spring town has ryokan inns and public baths. Visitors can make hot spring eggs and hot spring tofu in the waters, creating a simple yet atmospherically rich hot spring experience. The night sky is beautiful, perfect for enjoying a quiet mountain evening.

Access

About 2 hours by Kumano Kotsu bus from JR Shingu Station, or about 10 minutes further by local bus from the Hongu Taisha-mae bus stop.