Muranoyu Onsen is the oldest public bathhouse in Ibusuki, located in Omure, Ibusuki City, Kagoshima Prefecture. Founded in 1882 (Meiji 15), this communal bath boasts over 130 years of history and is highly regarded among hot spring enthusiasts as the "ultimate rustic hot spring."

The most distinctive feature of this hot spring is that it is one of the rare "ashimoto yushutsu" (foot-level spring emergence) hot springs, with only 20-30 such facilities existing in Japan. The hot spring water naturally emerges from the bottom of the bath, allowing visitors to bathe directly in fresh spring water that has never been exposed to air. The bathtub has a unique hexagonal shape that beautifully harmonizes with the floor tiles.

Historically, this is a very significant hot spring. Records show that Saigo Takamori visited for hot spring therapy in 1874 (Meiji 7). During May 1945, it also served as a place where kamikaze pilots from Ibusuki Naval Base purified their bodies before their final missions during the Battle of Okinawa.

The water color changes beautifully from dark black to milky white, offering visitors the chance to enjoy the salt springs that gently emit steam from the foot-level emergence. The bathhouse features an unpretentious wooden structure where the changing area and bathing area are integrated, creating an atmosphere that feels like stepping back into the Showa era with its profound sense of age. A portrait of Shimazu Nariakira is displayed, reflecting the deep connection with the Satsuma domain.