Kazoku Yu; Nakamura Onsen
Minamata, Kumamoto, Japan
- Location
- Minamata, Kumamoto, Japan
- Water type
- thermal, sodium chloride
- Temperature
- 39 °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
Kazoku Yu, also known as Nakamura Onsen, is a hot spring bath in Minamata, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. Its sodium-chloride thermal water reaches 39°C. Facilities include an indoor bath, an outdoor rotenburo bath and a sauna.
Insider tip — 'Kazoku Yu' (family bath) at Nakamura Onsen in Minamata, southern Kumamoto. The family bath format — private rooms bookable by groups — became especially valued in post-Minamata disease recovery, as the community rebuilt bonds severed by decades of suffering and social division. Minamata's story of environmental healing and social reconstruction is now taught worldwide. Bathing in community here carries resonance beyond any other Japanese hot spring city.
Nearby
Frequently asked questions
How hot is the water?
The water runs quite hot here, around 39 °C — a sedative water that brings immediate muscle release.
What type of water is found here?
This spot features thermal & sodium chloride water.
What is the best season to visit?
The most favourable period for this spot is: Toute l'année.