motoyu onsen
人吉温泉 元湯ひとよしおんせん もとゆ
Day Use
YesClosed the fourth Thursday of each month, and on January 1.
Elementary-school children ¥100, preschoolers age 3 and up ¥50, under 3 free. The bath is closed 12:00 to 14:00 daily for cleaning. A name-printed towel costs an extra ¥400 at the counter.
Bathing & Water
Uses natural hot spring water
Open-air outdoor bath
Enclosed indoor bathing area
Capabilities
Shared bathing area for all genders
Policies & Services
Allows entry with visible tattoos
Unverified
Restaurant or dining open to visitors (not just hotel meal plans)
Shower, wash stations, soap and shampoo provided
On-site or nearby parking available
Highlights
Drinking SpringAbout
Motoyu is a small neighborhood bathhouse a short walk from the Hitoyoshi Castle ruins. The name literally means "original spring." Each side has just one tub, filled with hot spring water straight from the source with nothing added or diluted, and regulars say it leaves the skin feeling smooth. There's also a corner where you can drink the spring water. Opened in 1934 and rebuilt after flood damage in 2020, it still feels like an old neighborhood sento: locals soak and chat at the counter, and a name-printed towel is sold there as a small souvenir.
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Last updated August 5, 2026