Kiyotsukyo Onsen

Tsunan, Niigata, Japan

Location: Tsunan, Niigata, Japan
Water type: thermal
Temperature: 40 °C
pH: 7.3

Water profile

Thermicity

Sedative

40 °C

LowHigh

Relaxing — deep, immediate muscle release.

Mineralisation

Balancing

LowHigh

Rich in trace elements — gentle on the skin.

Buoyancy

Standard buoyancy

LowHigh

Soft water — natural, classic buoyancy.

BicarbonatesCalcium

Kiyotsukyo Onsen lies near the Kiyotsu Gorge in Niigata Prefecture—one of Japan's three great snow gorges, where the Kiyotsu River has carved a dramatic narrow passage through volcanic rock over millennia, creating walls of stone that reach spectacular heights above the river below. The gorge has gained international art world recognition through the light installation and mirrored tunnel created by artist Mitsuru Shimizu, which transforms the geological drama of the gorge's interior into an immersive contemporary art experience that draws visitors from across Japan and beyond. Simple alkaline waters provide the restorative mineral soak that complements both the natural spectacle of the gorge's ancient geology and the contemporary artistic intervention that has given this Niigata landscape a new dimension of aesthetic experience.

Insider tip — Kiyotsukyo Onsen guards the entrance to the Kiyotsu Gorge in Niigata's Tokamachi snow country, Japan's most heavily snowfall-affected region where winters pile metres of white over the landscape. The mildly alkaline thermal water is a classic recovery tool for skiers and snowshoers who push hard in the surrounding backcountry. The gorge itself is a striking slot canyon accessible via a tunnel walkway with cut-out windows framing the river below. Arrive at the onsen just before closing when the day-trippers have left and the mountain silence is complete.

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