Shika no Yu
鹿の湯37°05′ N 140°00′ EDay use¥500, about CAD 4.50 or USD 3.20 (October 2026 rates)
Shika no Yu suits bathers who want Nasu's oldest public bath with scalding milky sulphur water for ¥500, and with no outdoor pool and tubs up to 46 degrees it rewards patience more than lingering.
Photo Hiroki Sato · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
Know before you bathe
Soak for short spells; the bath recommends about 15 minutes at a time and no more than four baths a day, and asks you to leave the minerals on your skin afterwards.
Getting there
Two minutes' walk from the Nasu Yumoto stop on the Kanto Bus line from JR Nasushiobara or Kuroiso to the Nasu Ropeway. Parking for 30 cars is free.
The tourism site for Tochigi calls Shika no Yu the birthplace of Nasu Onsen, with about 1,390 years of history. The wooden bathhouse dates from the Meiji era and its entrance from Taisho. Inside, the milky water runs into separate tubs set at temperatures from 41 to 46 degrees, and boards on the wall explain how to bathe without overheating.
Basho stopped here on the journey he wrote up as Oku no Hosomichi, and his verse stone stands by the Sessho-seki boulder up the lane. Bathe little and often, as the house rules suggest, and pick a cooler tub first.
Worth knowing
- Start in the 41-degree tub and work up; the hottest tubs hit 46 degrees.
Quick answers about Shika no Yuよくある質問
How much is Shika no Yu in Nasu?
Entry to Shika no Yu costs ¥500 for adults and ¥300 for primary school children.
Can you visit Shika no Yu without staying the night?
Yes. Shika no Yu sells day entry at ¥500 per adult (2026), about CAD 4.50 or USD 3.20 (October 2026 rates).
Is Shika no Yu mixed bathing?
No. Shika no Yu keeps separate baths for men and women.
What are the opening hours of Shika no Yu?
Shika no Yu keeps these hours: Mon–Sun 08:00–18:00.
Within 12 km
