Onsen and baths in Kokonoe

A small rustic carbonated-spring (tansan) bathhouse near a suspension bridge in Oita prefecture, famous for intense CO2 bubble baths; day-use costs 700 yen, last admission is 4pm, and shampoo is not provided.

A rustic, old-fashioned public bathhouse in Sujiyu onsen town known for its powerful shower-like 'utaseyu' waterfall bath and cheap 400-yen entry, with no shampoo or soap provided.

A traditional rural onsen with a separated communal bath plus eight paid private family baths (family baths are booked by the hour); source water is very hot but reviewers repeatedly report the outdoor bath and showers running lukewarm to cold in winter, so it suits summer visits best.

Satoyama onsen is a small mountain hot-spring facility near Kusu, Oita, made up entirely of private family baths rented by the hour on a first-come basis, with coin-fed hot water and no reservation system.

Sujiyu Onsen Utaseyu is a historic communal bathhouse in Kyushu famous for its powerful cascading hot-spring shower baths (utaseyu); note the washing taps run cold water only and no soap or shampoo is provided.

Kabeyu is a rustic cave-style communal hot-spring bath set beside a river in Kokonoe, Ōita, with lukewarm water; since 2022 it has been closed to outside day visitors and reserved for local key-holders only.

A roadside hot spring near Kokonoe with nine private family-style baths named after the Seven Lucky Gods, several semi-outdoor with river/forest views; note the higher weekend price and towel rental.

A rustic, unstaffed family-style hot spring bath hidden behind a private house near Yunotsubo, Oita, with three lockable private rooms (two indoor, one outdoor) for 300 yen per adult paid into a drop box; bring your own towel and expect no hair dryer.

A small day-use hot spring bath (500 yen) in the Kyuju mountains offering sodium bicaronate source-fed indoor baths with sauna and cold plunge, plus hourly private family baths and overnight stays.

Momijidani-no-Yu is a secluded, forested day-use hot spring with private family baths (some with outdoor tubs), a 60-minute soak limit, and source-fed water; call ahead and watch for scalding spots in the tub.

A tiny one-tub outdoor bath on a private house's land in Yutsubo, rented out as a private family bath (kashikiri) for about 500 yen per person, cash only into an unmanned box.

A tiny, bare-bones community hot-spring bathhouse near Kuju charging 200 yen, known for very hot kakenagashi water that bathers often cool with tap water; operating hours are irregular and it sometimes closes without notice.

Senshaku-yu is a hidden, unstaffed rustic mixed-sex rock bath near Sujiyu Onsen, reached via a muddy hidden path; pay 400 yen (previously 300) into a box—no soap, shampoo or lockers provided.

A very simple, no-frills public bathhouse (kyodo-yuba) in Sujiyu Onsen with a single indoor cypress-wood tub that alternates daily between men and women, no soap or shampoo provided.

A remote mountain ryokan beside Kyusuikei onsen offers kakenagashi hot-spring baths, a communal bath with sauna and cold bath, and a family bath open to day visitors, though small room baths can overflow if filled too high.

A simple hot-spring bathhouse with an outdoor bath fed by flow-through spring water and a paid private bath, though water supply has reportedly been unreliable and payment is cash only.

Baths that admit you without an overnight stay

Rotenburo, confirmed by visitors

Gensen kakenagashi, not recirculated

Often with a cold plunge