Nagayu Onsen

Little knownBarely documented in English. This is the kind of place the site exists for.

Researched and written by Hinato

Nagayucarbonated onsentansanlong soakTaketa

Photo: Belle Equipe / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) · original

Oita has been drawing bathers to Nagayu Onsen for longer than most travel guides bother to mention.

Nagayu Onsen (長湯温泉) in Taketa City is one of Japan's few naturally carbonated hot springs (炭酸泉, tansan-sen). The water contains high concentrations of dissolved carbon dioxide, creating tiny bubbles that cling to the skin like champagne — the bubbles improve blood circulation and give a tingling sensation.

The town's signature bathing style is 'long soak' (長湯, nagayu) — the water temperature is only 35–38°C (cooler than typical onsen), allowing hour-long soaks without overheating. The carbonation means even cool water creates warming effects.

Getting in the water

Hours

Gojoyu public bath: 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM.

Closed: Open year-round. Ramune Onsen check for occasional maintenance days.

Time to allow

1.5–2 hours for an extended carbonated soak (cool water allows longer 60-minute sessions)

Bathing fee

Gojoyu ¥500. Ramune Onsen ¥500. Day-bathing at ryokan ¥700–1,000.

Best time to visit

Year-round; cooler seasons enhance the warming contrast of carbonated bath; autumn for forested riverside scenery

Getting there

Access notes

Nagayu, Taketa City. A drive from Bungo-Taketa Station. Public bath: Gojoyu (御前湯, ¥500, 6:00–21:00). Day-bathing at ryokan: ¥700–1,000.

What locals know

**Drinking the water:** Nagayu onsen is safe to drink — a drinking fountain at Gojoyu offers free access. The water is mineral-rich (iron, calcium, magnesium) and slightly salty. Locals drink a cup before bathing (believed to enhance circulation effects). The taste is metallic but not unpleasant. **Riverside rotenburo:** Ramune Onsen (ラムネ温泉館, entry ¥500) has indoor and outdoor baths right on the Ono River — the outdoor bath allows floating in carbonated water while watching the river flow past. Architecture by Terunobu Fujimori (quirky modern design). **Extended soak strategy:** Bring a book or waterproof device — Nagayu's cool temperature makes 1-hour soaks comfortable (vs. 15-minute limit in 42°C regular onsen). The bubbles take 10 minutes to fully coat the skin, so patience is rewarded.

View on Google Maps