News Discussion

A Riverbed Hot Spring, Open Only in Winter

The outdoor bath in Wakayama, open until the end of February, invites visitors to soak for free in a hot spring that bubbles up directly from the riverbed.

Kawayu Onsen in Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, is famous for its hot springs that bubble up directly from the riverbed. Its winter-only open-air bath, known as the Sennin-buro (Hermit's Bath), opened along the river on December 1. The bath will be open to the public free of charge through the end of February 2026. It is a mixed-gender hot spring, and visitors are required to wear swimsuits.

An organizing committee made up of the local tourism association and other groups temporarily dammed part of the river to create the bath. It measures about 30 meters (around 98 feet) wide and 10 meters deep.

'A Special Experience'

On opening day, a local Buddhist priest offered prayers for safety during the season. Representatives from nearby lodging facilities then poured sacred sake into the bath. Visitors entered the water together, and clouds of steam drifted across the riverbank.

"We've been seeing more foreign visitors in recent years," said Shinichi Shiba, 66, head of the organizing committee. "Soaking in the bath under a star-filled sky, surrounded by nature, is a special experience. We want people across Japan to discover the charm of the Sennin-buro."

li>1. committee 委員会
The committee will meet again next week.
1. 2. temporarily 一時的に
   The website was temporarily unavailable.
2. 3. representatives 代表者（たち）
   Representatives from each team joined the meeting.
3. 4. sacred 神聖な
   The priest used sacred items during the ritual.
4. 5. charm 魅力、愛嬌
   Her charm made everyone feel relaxed.

1. 1. What prefecture is Kawayu Onsen located in?
2. 2. What is the winter-only open-air bath called?
3. 3. What do visitors have to wear when using the bath?
4. 4. Would you like to try a hot spring that is only open in winter? Why or why not?
5. 5. What do you think about mixed-gender hot springs where people wear swimsuits?

川底から湧き出る温泉で知られる和歌山県・川湯温泉の河原に、冬限定の「仙人風呂」がオープンした。

川底から湧き出る温泉で知られる川湯温泉（和歌山県田辺市）の河原に12月1日、冬限定の「仙人風呂」がオープンした。

地元の観光協会などでつくる実行委員会が、川の一部をせき止め、幅約30メートル、奥行き約10メートルの露天風呂を設置。来年2月末まで無料で開放する。

この日は期間中の安全を願い、地元の寺の住職が読経、宿泊施設の関係者が風呂にお神酒を注いだ後、観光客らが一斉に入浴し、河原に湯煙が広がった。

実行委員長の芝伸一さん（66）は「最近は外国人客も増えた。大自然の中、星空を見ながらの入浴も楽しい。全国に仙人風呂の魅力を伝えたい」と話した。