Kamiyu Onsen

Tanabe, Wakayama, Japan

Location: Tanabe, Wakayama, Japan
Water type: sodium chloride
Temperature: 41 °C
pH: 7.3

Water profile

Thermicity

Sedative

41 °C

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

Kamiyu Onsen in Nara Prefecture flows with simple thermal waters in a prefectural setting renowned throughout Japan for its millennia-old temples, ancient sacred forests, and the deep spiritual traditions that have made Nara one of the foundational centers of Japanese civilization since the eighth century. The name Kamiyu, meaning upper hot water, suggests a spring positioned at elevated terrain or above an associated bathing facility, a naming convention common in Japanese onsen topography that often reflects the natural vertical arrangement of geothermal water along mountain slopes. Set in the verdant hills of Nara where ancient nature and human history coexist in inseparable harmony, this spring offers visitors a meditative bathing experience that resonates with the contemplative spirit of a prefecture where every hillside carries the weight of living cultural memory.

Insider tip — Kamiyu Onsen sits deep in the Kumano river valley of Wakayama Prefecture along the ancient pilgrimage routes of the Kumano Kodo, a UNESCO World Heritage trail. The sodium-chloride spring produces warming waters ideal for rest after long days of walking through the sacred forest landscape. Small ryokan inns here have served pilgrims for centuries and continue to offer simple but restorative hospitality. The sound of the Kumano River rushing below the open-air bath adds a meditative quality to each soak.

Find hotels nearby →Tickets & activities →See the map & practical info →