Nenohana-onsen
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
- Higashiyama Station · 5 min walk (Kintetsu Ikoma Line)
- Hours
- 9:00–21:00 (last entry 20:00; baths close at 20:45 for cleaning); restaurant closed Wednesdays
- Admission
- ¥1,000 (adults), ¥500 (children through elementary school), free for age 3 and under; discounted to ¥500 (adults) and ¥300 (children) on Wednesdays
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Best time to go
- Wednesdays for ¥500 half-price bath admission, or non-Wednesday weekdays if planning to dine at the on-site restaurant
Hours can change on holidays — check the official site before travelling.
About
Nenohana-onsen is a sprawling natural hot spring complex tucked into the lush, green hills of Ikoma, just outside Nara. It is highly worth visiting for its serene outdoor baths (rotenburo) that offer scenic forest views, providing a peaceful escape from the city. Visitors can expect multiple therapeutic pools of varying temperatures and an excellent on-site restaurant famous for its fresh seafood bento boxes.
What Japanese guides note
Nenohana-onsen operates on a traditional sentō model that does not provide complimentary soap, shampoo, or towels, so visitors must bring their own supplies or purchase them at the reception counter. While bath entry is discounted to half price on Wednesdays, the attached seafood restaurant Nenohana-tei is closed on that day. Visitors intending only to dine on weekends or public holidays should be aware that restaurant-only admission is prohibited without paying the bath entrance fee.
Details from local sources
- Bathers must bring their own toiletries and towels, as soap and shampoo are not stocked in the washing areas. [source]
- The bath facility draws its natural thermal water from an underground depth of 1,850 meters. [source]
- On Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, visitors are not permitted to enter solely to use the on-site restaurant without purchasing bath admission. [source]
- The men's outdoor pool is the largest open-air bath in Nara Prefecture, while the women's outdoor area features a separate Japanese cypress bath. [source]
Insider Tip
Avoid the weekend crowds by visiting on a weekday afternoon, and be sure to try the seasonal sashimi bento after your soak.
Frequently asked
Are shampoo and bath towels supplied at Nenohana-onsen?
No. The facility does not equip washing stalls with complimentary soap, body wash, or shampoo, nor does admission include towels. Guests must bring their own bath supplies or purchase individual toiletry packets and towels at the reception desk before entering.
Can I visit just to eat at the restaurant without bathing?
Restaurant-only visits are permitted only on weekdays, excluding Wednesdays when the dining room is closed. On Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, facility policy strictly requires every visitor entering the building to pay the standard bath admission fee.
When is the admission discount available?
Admission is discounted every Wednesday, lowering entry to ¥500 for adults and ¥300 for children. However, the attached restaurant Nenohana-tei takes its regular weekly closure on Wednesdays, meaning dining services are unavailable during discount days.
How do you reach the hot spring by train?
Take the Kintetsu Ikoma Line to Higashiyama Station. From the station exit, proceed approximately 300 meters westward down into the valley road; the bath complex entrance is roughly a five-minute walk from the ticket gates.
Our Nara walking tours
Photos
