[Access] About a 20-minute walk from Yunotsu Station on the Sanin Main Line.
[Fee] 300 yen

Yunotsu Onsen has two main public baths: Motoyu and this one, Yakushiyu. Right next to the current Yakushiyu building, which has a lovely retro vibe, the even more atmospheric old building still remains. At the current Yakushiyu, you can go up to the rooftop to take a breather, and the view from there is really something—it’s got a great feel to it.

The bathroom is seriously impressive, with thick mineral deposits radiating out from the oval-shaped tub. I visited early in the morning and found locals chatting away while they soaked; that classic public bath atmosphere is just so relaxing. Compared to the water at Yamagataya, the color is a lighter shade of brown, but you can really feel the mineral richness on your skin. It warms you up beautifully.

The lady at the reception desk suggested I head up to the rooftop for a coffee after my soak. If it hadn’t been raining, I would’ve loved to relax there for a while, maybe snacking on some onsen crackers from the souvenir shop nearby.