Misasa Onsen

Misasa Onsen is a small hot spring town in the Tohaku hills known for radium-rich waters, among the most radioactive natural hot springs in the world, which local tradition and some research associate with health benefits, drawing visitors to its ryokan (traditional inns) for centuries. The town center is compact and walkable, centered on the Yumo bridge over the Mitoku River, with free public foot baths, a communal outdoor bathing spot in the riverbed itself (Kawara-buro), and narrow streets lined with older wooden ryokan buildings and small shops. Visitors without an overnight stay can still experience the springs through day-bathing packages offered by several ryokan, typically available mid-morning to mid-afternoon. A walking visit covering the foot baths, bridge, and town streets takes about 1 to 2 hours, while an overnight stay is the traditional way to experience the baths fully, often paired with a kaiseki dinner featuring local Tottori ingredients. The town has a quiet, unhurried atmosphere any time of year; winter brings a snow-lit ambiance that many visitors find especially atmospheric, while summer evenings are pleasant for a stroll along the river. The town is a short bus ride from JR Kurayoshi Station and often paired with a Sanbutsuji temple visit on Mount Mitoku nearby.