Hirauchi Kaichu
Though Yakushima is not a volcanic island, several hot springs can be found on the island, including some amazing onsen locations. There are two public ocean onsen pools in Yakushima which are very popular. A short 10min drive from Shiki no Yado (our minshuku accommodation) is Hirauchi Kaichu Onsen. A natural hot spring onsen which is only accessible at low tide for a couple of hours in the morning and the evening. Generally wherever you are staying can tell you the tide times. The longer you wait after low tide the hotter the water becomes.
OCEAN MORNING BLISS
A morning spent soaking in Hirauchi Kaichu is divine. We were lucky that there was only us, a mother and her young children enjoying the several onsen hot pools.
Hirauchi Kaichu is a public onsen that is very popular with the locals, for some it’s customary to bathe there everyday. It has been used in their daily life for over 400 years. It never was intended as a tourist attraction, so please be respectful of their rules and onsen etiquette.
Place 200 yen in the honesty box, make sure to place your shoes in the rough shelves provided and ensure that you rinse yourself from the two smaller onsen pools with the plastic bowls provided. Long hair should be tied up or wrapped up with a small towel and NO bathing suits are allowed. You can have a small towel or small sarong for modesty, if you’re that concerned. Hirauchi Kaichu is unisex, so you do have to be comfortable with nudity of both sexes. There are no changing rooms, so you’re stripping down naked in public and make sure to have a waterproof bag/plastic bag with you to put your clothes in.
NOTE: If you have tattoos, cover them up! This is still a local island onsen, be respectful of the culture and what tattoos mean to them (association with the Yakuza). Wash make up off before entering the onsen too. Also if you plan to visit at low tide at night, bring a torch.
And now just appreciate the beauty of bathing in a natural ocean onsen
The other is Yudomari Onsen (which we didn’t visit) in the neighbouring village of Yudomari. The onsen is divided into a male & female section so you don’t have to worry about mixed nudity (if you’re uncomfortable with that) and the bath is slightly larger. There is also a footbath available. Yudomari is not subject to the tides unless it’s a particularly stormy sea so you can generally access it 24/7. This onsen is not particularly hot so perhaps avoid it in mid winter and like Hirauchi Kaichu there is a 200yen honesty box.
