Hanayama Onsen Yakushi no Yu

Hanayama Onsen Yakushi no Yu is located in the Narukami district in eastern Wakayama City and is one of Wakayama's most celebrated hot springs with a history spanning over 1,200 years. It is said that successive emperors would stop here during their pilgrimages to Kumano. After a geological change caused the spring to cease flowing, a successful drilling survey in 1965 reached the source again at approximately 500 meters underground, and the facility opened in 1968 as both a lodging and day-trip hot spring.

The spring type is 'carbon dioxide-iron (II, III)-calcium magnesium-chloride spring (hypertonic, neutral, low-temperature)' with a source temperature of 25.2°C. It is one of the rare natural carbonated hot springs in Japan that self-artesian solely by carbon dioxide gas pressure. The total dissolved content is 21,574 mg/kg, making it one of the highest concentrations in the Kansai region. While colorless and transparent at the source, the iron content oxidizes upon contact with air, turning the water reddish-brown, and white crystals of mineral content accumulate on the edges of the bathtubs.

The source spring bath (26°C) offers 100% pure source spring flow-through with absolutely no added water, heating, circulation filtration, or disinfection — certified as Pure Onsen Type A by the Pure Onsen Association. A free shuttle bus from JR Wakayama Station East Exit is also available (reservation required), making it highly accessible as an urban hot spring.