Sakakibara Onsen Yumoto Sakakibarakan

Yumoto Sakakibarakan is a long-established hot spring inn at the heart of the Sakakibara Onsen district in Tsu City, Mie Prefecture. Sakakibara Onsen is celebrated as one of Japan's Three Famous Springs, praised by Sei Shonagon in her Heian-period literary classic The Pillow Book (circa 1000 CE) alongside Arima and Tamatsukuri under the name Nanakuri no Yu. For over a millennium, the spring has served as a sacred place of purification known as yugori, where pilgrims cleansed themselves before visiting the Grand Shrine of Ise. The Iyama Shrine, established in 927 CE, further cemented the spring's spiritual significance.

The water is classified as an alkaline simple hot spring with a remarkably high pH of 9.5. The source temperature is a mild 31.2 degrees Celsius, and the water is colorless and transparent. Sodium bicarbonate in the water gently removes dead skin cells while sodium ions create a soap-like film on the skin, producing the silky smooth texture that has earned it the reputation of a premier beauty spring. Yumoto Sakakibarakan is the only facility in Sakakibara Onsen to use 100 percent in-house source water, with even the faucets and showers in the washing areas supplied by the spring. The inn draws from two sources with a combined output of 410 liters per minute.

The main bath Maromi no Yu comes in two variations, Murasaki and Moegi, alternating daily between men and women. The open-air baths Osome and Tamenosuke also alternate daily. A dedicated kakenagashi bath allows guests to experience the fresh 31.2-degree source water unheated, and private open-air baths called Amatsuki no Yu are also available. The day-trip bathing facility Yu no Sho is open from 9:00 to 20:00 for 1,000 yen per adult. The inn offers 38 guest rooms and serves cuisine featuring premium Matsusaka beef and medicinal herb-based wellness menus.