Niu no Kawa Onsen; Niu Yamasemi no Sato Onsenkan
Tanabe, Wakayama, Japan
- Location
- Tanabe, Wakayama, Japan
- Water type
- sodium chloride
- Temperature
- 41 °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
Niu no Kawa Onsen (Niu Yamasemi no Sato Onsenkan), in Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, heats sodium-chloride water to 41°C, with an indoor bath, an outdoor bath (rotenburo) and a sauna.
Insider tip — Niu Yamasemi no Sato, the kingfisher village of the Niu River, serves the ancient Niukawa valley of Tanabe City where the Niu River descends from the mountains sacred to Niutsuhime — the white-clad goddess who guided Kukai (Kobo Daishi) to the site of Koyasan in 816 CE. The Niutsuhime Shrine at Koyasan is ranked the highest female deity shrine in Japan, and the Niu River valley preserves the ceremonial forest corridor through which the Koya-kaido pilgrimage route descended from the sacred mountain to the coastal communities of the Kii Peninsula.
Nearby
Frequently asked questions
How hot is the water?
The water runs quite hot here, around 41 °C — a sedative water that brings immediate muscle release.
What type of water is found here?
This spot features sodium chloride water.
What is the best season to visit?
The most favourable period for this spot is: Toute l'année.