One of the Best Secluded Hot Springs, Shinmoeso in Shinyu Onsen

The inn was reopened last year after being closed because of Mt Shinmoedake’s eruption

Shimoeso inn was closed for one year and a half after Mt Shinmoedake (1421 meters ) erupted and the access to the area was restricted. Finally in July 2012 the inn was opened again for visitors. This was a very celebrated occasion, as Shinyu Onsen hot spring region has many fans from all over the country and people couldn’t wait to come here again.

Shinyu Onsen fascinates with its blue and white water

This is the color that people associate Shinyu Onsen’s hot springs with. The blue and milky white shade is typical for the hot springs in Kirishima. Not only I get excited when I see this pool!

It’s really great how the hot water comes out of the stone and mortar-covered wall and delivers all the important sulfuric components.

This is a sulfuric thermal hot spring with a very strong smell of hydrogen sulfide. A sign says that you shouldn’t stay more than 30 minutes.

Actually, once you enter Shinyu Onsen’s hot springs, you wouldn’t be able to remove the smell of sulfur from your body on the next day.

The highlight of this hot spring is the gender mixed open air bath

Another popular thing that Shinyu Onsen is associated with are the gender-mixed open-air baths. This one also has blue and milky white colored water. The original hot spring source has a temperature of over 60 degrees, so additional natural water is added to make the pool temperature comfortable. When I went there the temperature was 41 degrees and it was quite pleasant.



The water is transparent only for about 20 centimeters under the surface which means that women can possibly enjoy the gender-mixed bath too. In fact every time I visit this place it’s early morning during the weekdays so I still haven’t seen a woman bathing inside. I’m just assuming they might enjoy.

The pool for health treatment has an even stronger sulfuric smell!

Finally, let me introduce the special hot spring pool for health treatment. When Shinyu Onsen was originally developed in the Meiji period, it became famous for treating dermatosis and other skin diseases. Even now many people come here for treatment. 



Similarly to the other indoor bath, the water comes from a pipe in the wall. But there’s something unique when you look closely – from time to time muddy pieces of sulfur fall into the pool together with the hot water. I was really amazed by this view! This bath is made for health treatment and once you see it, you’ll certainly understand why.

Shinyu Onsen’s Shinmoeso inn

Quite a few disasters have happened in Shinyu Onsen. In 1951 a big landslide caused by a typhoon killed 9 people. In 1989 hydrogen sulfide gases killed 2 people, while in 2011 Mt Shinmoedake erupted… Nevertheless, visitors and hot spring fans have never stopped coming to Shinyu Onsen. I myself have been here many times.