Hotel · Open
Shin-Kabakawa Kanko Hotel
- Day-use bathing
- Yes
- Fee
- Unconfirmedno check date
- Hours
- Unconfirmedchecked 2026-10-09
Photo information
Save to passport
Official classification
Spring type (therapeutic classes)
Official spring-type name (as recorded)Varies by source: simple springs and simple sulfur springs, all cold (below 25 °C)
- Source temperature
- 25°C
- pH
- Unconfirmed
- Flow rate
- Unconfirmed
- Radon
- Unconfirmed
Appearance & feel
Water colour · Feel
Unconfirmed
Colour and feel are listed only where a source states them. They vary by day and by bath.
What makes it special
One bus, about an hour from Takamatsu Station. Kagawa's oldest spring, said to have been found by the monk Gyoki 1,300 years ago, is waiting for its new bathhouse at the rebuilt roadside station.
Why?
The Shionoe tourism association says the spring was found by Gyoki about 1,300 years ago and is the oldest in Kagawa; Wikipedia gives about an hour by Kotoden bus from Takamatsu and records that the Gyoki-no-yu day bath closed on 8 May 2023. Takamatsu City has published plans for a day-bath facility in the new roadside station due to open in fiscal 2026.[1][3][4]
Facilities in this area
Facilities come from the register (Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, official sites). Those marked "natural spring unconfirmed" are listed on the basis of their name only.
Hotel · Open
Livemax Resort Sanuki Shionoe Onsen
- Day-use bathing
- Yes
- Fee
- Unconfirmedno check date
- Hours
- Unconfirmedchecked 2026-10-09
Day-use bath · Closed
Gyoki-no-yu (closed; being rebuilt as part of the roadside station)
- Day-use bathing
- No
- Fee
- Unconfirmedno check date
- Hours
- Unconfirmedchecked 2026-10-09
Getting there
Reachable by public transport
From JR Takamatsu Station, the Kotoden bus Shionoe line takes about 1 hour to Shionoe. About 20 minutes by taxi from Takamatsu Airport.
- Getting there
- Takamatsu Station · 60
- Checked
- 2026-10-09
About the water
Shionoe's water rises cold, below 25 °C, from a fault zone along the Koto River. Some sources are simple springs and some simple sulfur springs, and each inn heats its own. The Shin-Kabakawa hotel describes its bath as gentle on the skin; we make no claims about effects. Analysis figures were not available and remain unconfirmed.
| Source | Source temperature | pH | Radon | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shionoe (multiple sources) | Unconfirmed | Unconfirmed | Unconfirmed | no check date |
Three things not to miss
Photo information
The Koto River and the village gateway
Along Route 193 around the Shionoe bus stop More than ten springs lie along a fault zone beside the Koto River (Wikipedia); about ten inns.
All the sources are cold mineral springs below 25 °C, heated for bathing. The point is being among mountains and river an hour from the city.[3]
The new Shionoe roadside station (due fiscal 2026)
On the site of the former Gyoki-no-yu The Gyoki-no-yu day bath (opened 2000) closed on 8 May 2023. Takamatsu City is rebuilding the roadside station at a cost of about 4.8 billion yen, with a day-bath facility including indoor and open-air baths on the second floor.
What you can bathe in depends on when you go; check the city's opening notice before travelling.[3][4]
Fudo Falls and Saimyoji temple
In Shionoe The roughly 40-metre Fudo Falls and Saimyoji temple, said to have been founded by Gyoki. The spring he is said to have found lies near Shirahige Falls.
You can walk the story of the spring's origins.[2]
The story
The spring of Gyoki and Kukai
Tradition says the monk Gyoki found the spring near Shirahige Falls about 1,300 years ago in the Nara period, and that Kukai later practised here and recommended the water for healing. After the Russo-Japanese War it served as a convalescent resort for wounded soldiers.[2][3]
The 'matchbox' railway and a national health resort
In November 1929 the Shionoe Onsen Railway opened, about 16 km from Busshozan to Shionoe, its tiny cars nicknamed 'matchboxes'. The line is long gone and the bus is now the only public transport. On 29 March 2002 Shionoe was designated a National Health Resort Hot Spring, one of only two in Shikoku.[2][3]
After Gyoki-no-yu
Gyoki-no-yu, the public day bath that opened in 2000 and served more than 1.3 million visitors, closed on 8 May 2023. Takamatsu City is rebuilding the Shionoe roadside station for about 4.8 billion yen with a second-floor bath hall, open-air bath and larger sauna, aiming to open in fiscal 2026. Until then the tourism association lists two hotels, Shin-Kabakawa and Livemax Resort, for day bathing.[3][4][1]
Going solo
Easy for solo travellersUnconfirmed
Weekend / peak restrictionsUnconfirmed
Where to eat dinnerThe tourism association lists eateries; pair the trip with Sanuki udon in Takamatsu
Private bathUnconfirmed
checked 2026-10-09
Through the year
Recommended months
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Months open
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
"Recommended" and "open" are recorded separately. Check the season for seasonal springs.
Apr — Cherry blossom season (tourism association)
Jun — Firefly viewing (tourism association)
Nov — Autumn leaves; the valley is a well-known spot near Takamatsu
Food, culture & experiences
Fudo Falls
About 40 m high, also called the five-tier falls[2]
In Shionoe (travel time not confirmed)Saimyoji temple
Said to be founded by Gyoki; known for autumn bush clover[2]
In Shionoe (travel time not confirmed)Great ginkgo of Iwabu Hachiman Shrine
About 600 years old, a protected natural monument since 1971[2]
In Shionoe (travel time not confirmed)Fishing and stargazing tours
Activities listed by the tourism association[1]
In ShionoeShionoe Onsen Festival
Annual festival (dates not confirmed)[1]
In ShionoeEditors' guide
Best as a day trip from Takamatsu: udon in town in the morning, then the hour-long bus from the station. Bathe at one of the hotels (confirm fees and hours with them), then walk to Fudo Falls or Saimyoji. Note the return bus times first. Once the new roadside-station bath opens in fiscal 2026, that will become the natural base for day visitors.
The "editors' guide" above is written by the editors from sources; it is not a visitor's opinion.
Photo gallery
Visitor reviews
No reviews yet. While the review platform is being prepared, we do not display fictional reviews or ratings.
Review posting is in preparation, with visit date, facility, comments on water, scenery and access, photos, language and reporting.
Onsen areas nearby
さぬき温泉
さぬき温泉
2.2 km
Photo information
Photo information
Photo information
ふいご温泉
ふいご温泉
20.3 km
Aji Onsen
Unconfirmed & notes
- Day-bath fees and hours at the two hotels could not be read from official pages; unconfirmed
- Spring analysis figures (minerals, pH, temperature) unconfirmed
- Kotoden bus frequency and fare not confirmed
- Opening date of the new roadside-station bath not fixed (city target: fiscal 2026)
Sources
- 塩江温泉観光協会 公式サイト塩江温泉観光協会 · 2026-10-09
- 塩江の歴史(塩江温泉観光協会)塩江温泉観光協会 · 2026-10-09
- 塩江温泉 - Wikipedia(日本語版)Wikipedia · 2026-10-09
- 道の駅しおのえ整備通信(高松市)高松市 · 2026-10-09
- 温泉・宿泊(塩江温泉観光協会)塩江温泉観光協会 · 2026-10-09
Register sources
- 塩江温泉 - Wikipedia(日本語版)Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · 2026-10-09
- Wikidata Q11428756Wikidata · CC0 · 2026-10-09
Data status
Name & locationPublishedCoordinatesPublishedSpring typePublishedPhotosPublishedFacilitiesPublishedVisiting info (dated)PublishedEditorial articlePublished
Updated 2026-10-09
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