[Access] About 90 minutes by car from Hari IC on the Meihan National Highway
[Webpage] Tennokawa Onsen – Kigi-no-Yu (Japanese)

For my hike up Mount Hakkyo, I stayed in Tenkawa Village, a quiet place with several hot springs. Near my lodging, I could hear warblers singing by the river, along with the gentle flow of water and the occasional call of kajika frogs — it was such a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere. Encouraged by my host, I decided to visit a nearby hot spring, Tennokawa Onsen – Kigi-no-Yu.

The source of Tennokawa Onsen is located near Tenkawa Benzaiten Shrine, one of Japan’s three major shrines dedicated to Benzaiten. The spring is a bicarbonate hot spring with a mildly alkaline pH of 8.4. The water is clear and gentle, leaving your skin feeling smooth. Since the spring temperature is relatively low at 19°C, it is heated using a wood-fired boiler fueled by local thinned timber from the village. The total mineral content is 631 mg/kg, which is on the lighter side.

The tables and benches in the rest area were also made from locally sourced wood, giving the whole facility a warm and calming atmosphere. There were many interesting local souvenirs as well — I found myself wanting to buy a few. After my bath, I tried a cup of persimmon leaf tea. I think it was my first time. It had a unique, slightly earthy flavor.

Although this onsen is deep in the Kii Mountain Range and a bit hard to reach, I really loved how peaceful and relaxing the whole area felt — not just the bath, but the surrounding nature as well.