Best Bathes of Numazu! Four Unique Recommendations for Nishiizu’s Heda Onsen

The symbol of Heda! The Vermillion Torii

Heda district of the city of Numazu faces mountains to the south, north, and east, and faces the ocean of Heda Port and Suruga Bay to the west. 


Pictured is Mihama Cape, beautiful with its white sand and green pines, which juts out into Heda Port. It is a popular destination for beachgoers in the summer, and the torii (a Japanese gate commonly found at Shinto shrines) at its end is almost like a symbol for Heda. 


The torii’s beautiful vermillion color stands out from the surrounding the blue sea, and is a sight that you must see if you visit Heda. There is an inn that provides a bath where you can enjoy this view, the best in Heda, as you bathe: “Tokiwaya.”


Private use only!

Tokiwaya is an inn with a long tradition, being established in 1870. The view in the picture is from the inn’s bath, “Tsurukame no Yu.” This onsen is available for free to guests, and is reserved for private use by families. It can be used whenever open, so enjoy a nice bath with your family or significant other. 


There is an additional private bath, “Hinoki no Yu,” but “Tsurukame” is definitely the recommended choice, as it has the beautiful view over Heda Port and the cape. The name “Tsurukame no Yu” means “crane and turtle bath.” Cranes and turtles are known in Japan for having long lifespans, and are considered symbols of longevity. The turtle decoration near the spout of the hot spring is very cute as well!



The torii of Mihama Cape, visible from here, is the torii of the Morokuchi Shrine, which has watched over the safety of ships entering and leaving Heda Port for centuries. The onsen lets you gaze upon the ships entering the port with the atmosphere of an old fishing town, all as you bathe. The inn additionally has large, public bathing areas separate for men and women, which is available for non-guests as well. (For more information, click the “Tokiwaya” link below)

Going from the main building to the annex in Tokiwaya, the docks are right in front. In the summer, there is a ferry that goes from here to Mihama Beach, and you can head to the beach directly from your room in your bathing suit. They also operate as a beachside restaurant under the name of Tokiwaya. 


For onsen in a big bathtub, check out this one!

Pictured is the women’s public bathing area, “Ooku no Yu,” of the inn “Onjuku Kimuraya Tsuwabuki Tei.” The baths at Tsuwabuki Tei are overall very large, and is a great onsen of people who want to stretch out and enjoy the water. 


This “Ooku no Yu” is large enough to accommodate 15 adults at the same time. If there aren’t a lot of people, you can stretch out your arms and legs and relax 120% in this comforting bath.

The inn is located on high ground at the base of Mihama Cape, and as you relax in your bath you can gaze upon Suruga Bay, known for being the deepest in Japan. On top of that, on days with good weather you can see romantic scenes like the beautiful sunset in the horizon, or the night skyline of Shizuoka City. 


Pictured is the women’s bath, but the men’s public bath “Honjin no Yu” is also around the same size, and also has a great view as well.



There is a path leading directly to Mihama Beach from the inn, called the “Promenade to the Sea,” so in the summertime you can rest your body in the onsen after a fun day at the beach.


A calming bath

Onsens where you can hear the sound of water gently trickling into the bath are quite quaint, with their own taste and feel. For a bath like that, we recommend the onsen at the inn with the ocean taste, “Sasaya”.



The inn is located near the Heda Shrine, from which the Heda Disctrict takes its name named. The shrine has a long history, being listed in a compilation of shrine names in Japan in the year 927, the Engishiki Jinmyocho. Having a source of mystical energy like that near by, and hearing only the sound of the onsen, you can quietly relax. Even just taking a leisurely bath lets you feel the power of the shrine.

Pictured is the women’s outdoor public bath “Fukase no Yu,” but be sure to enjoy the men’s outdoor public bath “Gorota no Yu” as well, where you can bathe as you hear the sounds of the onsen. To get from this inn to Mihama Beach, it takes about 5 minutes by car. 


The overflowing onsen!

Pictured is “Ichi no Yu,” the bath that is allowed to overflow with the free-flowing spring water of Heda Onsen. 


There is only one hot spring for Heda Onsen, and all of the water in the baths discussed above actually comes from here. Located close to the spring, this bath is highly recommended for the fresh spring water you can enjoy. The spring water flows at about 52 degrees Celsius, making it a highly pure onsen that doesn’t require much adjustment of its temperature. There are only two indoor baths (one for men and the other for women), but the charm of this bath is the fact that the water is freshly sprung. Despite its proximity to the sea, the water is not very salty, and your skin is feeling nice and smooth afterward! 



The fee to use this bath is only a few hundred yen, which is very reasonable! In front of “Ichi no Yu” there is an “onsen stand,” where you can bring hot spring water for your home! It might be nice to enjoy it with the family. (You are required to bring your own container to bring the onsen water home)

[Onsen Data] 
Spring Quality: Sodium-Calcium-Sulfate Hot Spring 
(hypotonic, alkaline, high-temperature spring) 
colorless, clear 
Spring Temperature: 51.8 degrees Celsius 
pH: 9.2