Kotohira Onsen

Kotohira town, where Kotohira Onsen is located, has been an inn town that has welcomed visitors called "Kotohira pilgrimage" since the Edo period. Kotohira Onsen, located in this town that has prospered as a historic shrine's inn town, is about a 4-minute walk from the nearest station and about a 7-minute walk from the main station in Kotohira. Originally, a single manager who ran a hotel in this area began digging and discovered the hot spring, which was then supplied to other lodging facilities, making the former inn town one of the leading hot spring towns in Shikoku. In recent years, the number of tourists from overseas has increased, and it is considered a popular tourist destination that attracts many travelers throughout the year.

Kotohira Onsen, located in the center of Kotohira-cho, is a convenient location for Shikoku tourism. In the town near the gate, you can find the oldest theater in Japan, the "Former Kotohira Grand Theater (Kanamaru-za)", and see Kabuki picture signboards throughout the town. In addition, there are many tourist spots such as the "National Park Sanuki Mannou", "Zentsuji", "Marugame Castle", and "Kotoden Park" in the surrounding area, and it is a hot spring area where you can enjoy walking along the approach to the shrine.

The hot springs at Kotohira Onsen-gou have a composition of salt-heavy carbonate soil springs, as well as sodium-calcium chloride springs. With a pH level of around 7.4 to 7.8, the alkaline quality of the springs, combined with the natural radium hot spring containing radon, make it gentle and perfect for slowly enjoying a bath at temperatures ranging from about 19 to 25 degrees Celsius, depending on the air temperature. The hot springs at Kotohira Onsen-gou are said to be effective for various ailments, including neuralgia, joint pain, digestive disorders, and frozen shoulder. You can relax and enjoy the benefits of the radium hot spring while contemplating the scenery and traditions that the Japanese have been protecting for hundreds of years.

Kotohira-cho, which has welcomed pilgrims to Konpira-san since the Edo period, has prospered as a temple town mainly along the approach to Kotohiragu Shrine. Currently, there are more than ten hotels and ryokans, ranging from large hotels and inns to small and cozy ones. Choosing accommodation according to your purpose and budget is, of course, possible, and the variety of accommodation plans is also one of the attractions. Why not enjoy a stay at Kotohira Onsen, which has sprung up in this area where the culture of hospitality is deeply rooted?

Among the lodging facilities lining the approach to Kotohira Onsen, there are also accommodations where day trips for bathing are possible. Depending on the facility, you can enjoy open-air baths or private baths with views of the Sanuki Plain. There are also plans that include lunch or a combination of room rest and bathing, making it perfect for a rest after visiting the shrine. During busy periods, bathing times may change or the facility may temporarily close, so it's best to inquire in advance if you're worried.