Yunomine Onsen Tsuboyu

A public bathhouse located in the almost exact center of the Yunomine hot spring district through which passes the Kumano Highway. This unusual hot spring is also registered as part of the Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Routes World Heritage Site as it is used by pilgrims to ritually purify them. The bathhouse’ bath is quite simple in construction, consisting of a natural stone bathing tub and wood board walls. Only around two to three people can enter at a time; there is no separate men’s or women’s bath. The rules for usage of the bath are as follows: Bathers get a numbered ticket at the entrance to the hot spring district and, when their number comes up, may bathe in the tub for 30 minutes before they must leave and the next group of bathers is allowed to enter. The nice thing about this system is that during their time, a group has the bath all to themselves. As the waters of the tub naturally change color several times throughout the day, the bath is known as a “seven colored bath.” The legend of Oguri Hangan is also connected to the bath.