Osaka

Osaka has 17 onsen areas and 173 springs (Ministry of the Environment, FY2024). That is one of the smaller counts in Japan, yet overnight stays at its spas top 2.36 million a year. Almost all of the water is pumped rather than flowing naturally. Inunakiyama, described as the only onsen village in the prefecture, is its classic mountain spa.

Main onsen areas

In the south, Inunakiyama lies in the hills of Izumisano near the Wakayama border, its spa town strung along a mountain stream. To the north are Nose in Nose town and Fushio in Ikeda, and to the southeast Amami in Kawachinagano. Inside Osaka city there are urban bathing complexes such as Spa World in Naniwa ward.

Characteristic spring types

Chloride springs are the most common in our records, followed by bicarbonate and radon springs. Inunakiyama is a slightly cloudy bicarbonate spring, while Nose, Fushio, Amami and Ishikiri are radon (radium) springs.

Reachable by public transport

For Inunakiyama, take the Nankai Wing Bus bound for Inunakisan from Izumisano Station on the Nankai Main Line or Hineno Station on the JR Hanwa Line; it is about 30 minutes to the last stop.

For solo travellers

Inunakiyama is one bus ride from the station and offers day bathing, so it works well for a solo half-day trip. Nose also takes day bathers (1,000 yen on weekdays), though its shuttle is for overnight guests only.

Food & culture

Inunakisan is a Shugendo sacred mountain said to have been opened by En no Gyoja about 1,300 years ago; its temple, Shipporyuji, is said to predate Omine in Yamato by six years. A legend tells of soldiers defeated in the wars of the 14th century healing their wounds in the spring.