Hoshinooka Onsen
Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan
- Location
- Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan
- Water type
- sodium chloride, thermal
- Temperature
- 40 °C
- pH
- 7.3
Water profile
Thermicity
Sedative
LowHigh
Relaxing — deep, immediate muscle release.
Mineralisation
Restorative
LowHigh
Loaded with major ions — the essential minerals (Ca, Mg).
Buoyancy
Effortless float
LowHigh
Dense, salty water — you float without effort.
SodiumChloruresBrome
Hoshinooka Onsen is located in Matsuyama, Ehime prefecture, on the island of Shikoku. Its sodium-chloride thermal water emerges at around 40°C. The bath house offers an indoor bath, an outdoor rotenburo bath and a sauna.
Insider tip — Hoshinooka (Star Hill) Onsen occupies a distinctive position in western Matsuyama's hillside neighborhoods, where cedar-forested slopes begin their ascent above the city's rooftops. Matsuyama's thermal culture extends across every district — from the famous Dogo Honkan to quiet hilltop sentos like this one — reflecting a city that has organized its social life around communal bathing for well over a millennium. The night view from this hillside onsen across Matsuyama's illuminated grid toward the Seto Inland Sea and the Sadamisaki Peninsula makes Hoshinooka's name particularly apt.
Nearby
Frequently asked questions
How hot is the water?
The water runs quite hot here, around 40 °C — a sedative water that brings immediate muscle release.
What type of water is found here?
This spot features sodium chloride & thermal water.
What is the best season to visit?
The most favourable period for this spot is: Toute l'année.