Eigenji Onsen

Eigenji Onsen is an intimate thermal facility in the Eigenji area of Higashiomi City, set in one of Shiga Prefecture's most celebrated natural settings—the valley of Eigenji temple (永源寺), a Rinzai Zen monastery founded in 1361 whose grounds are draped in maple trees that turn the valley into a blazing tapestry of scarlet and gold each November, drawing thousands of autumn foliage pilgrims from across the Kansai region. The siliceous mineral waters provide warm, restorative bathing for visitors completing the Eigenji maple trail, soaking away the exertion of mountain hiking and the emotional fullness of encountering one of Japan's most spectacular autumn landscapes. The Eigenji Gorge, the ancient stone steps of the temple approach, and the mountain streams tumbling through Higashiomi's eastern valleys embed this onsen in a setting of exceptional natural poetry.