Hofuna Onsen

Hofuna, Yamaguchi (Chugoku), Japan

Location: Hofuna, Yamaguchi (Chugoku), Japan
Water type: bicarbonate
Temperature: 40 °C
pH: 8

Water profile

Thermicity

Sedative

40 °C

LowHigh

Relaxing — deep, immediate muscle release.

Mineralisation

Restorative

LowHigh

Loaded with major ions — the essential minerals (Ca, Mg).

Buoyancy

Standard buoyancy

LowHigh

Soft water — natural, classic buoyancy.

BicarbonatesSodiumCalcium

Hofuna Onsen is located in Hofu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, a city of ancient distinction as the original provincial capital of Suo Province, home to the Hofu Tenmangu shrine — one of Japan's three great shrines dedicated to the scholar-deity Tenjin (Sugawara no Michizane) — and an architectural heritage spanning from the Nara period to the present. The siliceous thermal waters here provide restorative bathing in a city that carries centuries of political and cultural significance as a former provincial center of Yamaguchi's rich feudal history. Visitors to Hofu Onsen can combine mineral spring bathing with visits to the historic shrine, the former imperial detached palace, and the city's museums that document Suo Province's role in shaping medieval and early modern Japanese governance.

Insider tip — Hofuna Onsen sits in the inland hills of Yamaguchi Prefecture, drawing a clear bicarbonate spring favoured by local farmers and retirees for its gentle, skin-softening properties. The surrounding countryside is quiet and largely agricultural, with the Chugoku Mountains providing a forested backdrop throughout the seasons. This is a genuine neighbourhood onsen rather than a resort, where the entrance fee is modest and conversation flows freely in the communal tubs. The town of Yamaguchi, with its Sesshu Garden and Rurikoji Temple, lies a short drive away.

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