Hourigawa Onsen Bijin no Yu

Hourigawa Onsen Bijin no Yu is a day-use hot spring at the far end of the Hourigawa gorge, deep in the mountains of Kitagawa in Nobeoka City, close to the Oita prefectural border at the northern edge of Miyazaki. It lies within Sobo-Katamuki Quasi-National Park, part of the Sobo, Katamuki and Okue UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, on a rise above the Hourigawa River about four kilometres short of Kamihouri, the trailhead for Mount Okue (1,643 m), one of Japan's 200 Famous Mountains. Central Nobeoka is roughly 50 minutes away by car, and the only public transport is an infrequent bus from the Nobeoka Station bus centre. The bathhouse is a municipal facility owned by Nobeoka City; after decades under a semi-public operating company, Onokobo Design LLC took over as designated manager in 2025 and reopened the renovated building on 13 September that year.

The water is classified as a simple spring, though sodium and bicarbonate ions dominate its mineral content, giving it the character of a bicarbonate spring. It is clear and colourless with a notably soft feel, and the smooth skin bathers report afterwards is the reason for the name Bijin no Yu, the beautifying bath. The source emerges at only about 30 degrees Celsius at a modest 10 litres per minute, so the baths are filled with heated water and topped up with the spring; the tubs sit at around 40 to 41 degrees. Whether the water is diluted, recirculated or disinfected is not published, and sources disagree on the pH, quoting either 7.67 or 8.6, so the analysis sheet posted on site is the reference to trust.

Bathing is in separate men's and women's indoor baths and open-air baths, the latter looking out on the granite spires of Mount Okue. The renovation added a wood-fired Finnish sauna and brought back a restaurant serving local produce. Admission is 520 yen for junior high school students and above, 310 yen for elementary school children and free for younger children, while the wood-fired sauna costs 2,520 yen including bathing. Opening hours are 10:00 to 20:00, closed Thursdays except public holidays. Parking is free for about 40 cars, and there is no lodging: this is a day-use bath only.