Arayu hot spring Naka-no-yu

The public bath in Okushiobara hot springs

Outline

Arayu Hot Spring was built after Motoshiobara hot spring was destroyed by the earthquake. Naka-no-yu is in the central part of Arayu Hot Spring, and it is near to the crater.

There are many mixed bath in Arayu hot spring. However, Naka-no-yu is not mixed bathing. The ingredient of the water is very strong as it's a natural hot spring. Everybody insert a coin in a slot which is installed at the entrance.

Many people take bath in winter because there is the skiing ground nearby.

Location

27 Yumoto Shiobara, Shiobara-machi, Nazu-gun, Tochigi-ken
TEL : 0287-32-2512
(tourist society)

Impression

The water smells of sulfur and it is muddy color. I think it is like a Shirahone Hot Spring in Nagano prefecture. The water temperature is very high (about 79 degrees).

If you feel the water very hot, you can add some cold water to the bathtub from faucet. The regular bather says that you take eggs in to hot water for 10 - 15 minuites and they will be hard boiled eggs. The strong sulfur in the water turns the eggshell black.

There are some craters near Naka-no-yu, which is turning on the steam.
The gas of sulfur shoots from the ground around here.
The shrine of hot spring is beside the crater.

Business

Business hours	6:00 - 18:00
Closure day	open throughout the year
Charge	300 yen

Access

Arayu Hot Spring is along Nichien toll road (Nichien Momiji Line) from shiobara to Kinugawa. Arayu Hot Spring resort is small. Tera-no-you fronts on Nichien toll road. There is Naka-no-yu where you go up a slope from Tera-no- yu.
There is a parking lot for five units.

Visit day: April, 1998