Hot Spring Baths on The Riverbed
Misasa Onsen in Tottori has been famous for its curative powers for over 800 years. The waters here are considered to be therapeutic and beneficial in treating all kinds of ailments. In addition to onsen bathing, you can refresh your spirit by walking out in the woods. There are outdoor hot spring baths on the riverbed, a local institution, foot baths, and drop-by baths in the town. So we recommend that you stroll around the town and enjoy hot spring hopping. For many, using the Kawara bath located next to the river is the ultimate in onsen experiences. Outdoors, mixed gender and in full view of visitors passing over the bridge, the fear of committing cultural faux pas can be a little overwhelming. As with most onsen, bathers are completely naked, so bring a small towel along.
You can preserve some modesty by disrobing behind the screen next to the bath or even by the side of the path. Using one of the available tubs, rinse before washing yourself until squeaky clean, then rinse off before entering the bath. Relax for as long as you like. There is Mt. Mitoku Sanbutsuji Temple nearby which is known as a hallowed ground in Mountain Buddhism, and it is a traditional manner to purify your body by Misasa hot spring before you pay a visit to the temple.
Mitokusan Sanbutsuji Temple is a mountain temple on the premises of 900-meter high Mt. Mitoku. The rear temple, called "Nageire-do," is a designated National Treasure and is a rare structure built into a depression on a sheer vertical cliff face. It's unclear when exactly Nageire-do was built, but legend has it that the structure was thrown up ("nageire" in Japanese) from the level ground through the spiritual power of En no Ozuno, the founder of the mountain asceticism-shamanism tradition Shugendo. While it's necessary to climb a difficult mountain path in order to see Nageire-do up close, there is an observation point located on a road at the mountain base where it can be seen. In addition, Mt. Mitoku and Misasa Onsen were designated as Japan Heritage sites as "Places of purification of the six roots of perception and healing of the six senses - Japan's most dangerous national treasure and one of the world's finest radon hot springs."
You can preserve some modesty by disrobing behind the screen next to the bath or even by the side of the path. Using one of the available tubs, rinse before washing yourself until squeaky clean, then rinse off before entering the bath. Relax for as long as you like. There is Mt. Mitoku Sanbutsuji Temple nearby which is known as a hallowed ground in Mountain Buddhism, and it is a traditional manner to purify your body by Misasa hot spring before you pay a visit to the temple.
Mitokusan Sanbutsuji Temple is a mountain temple on the premises of 900-meter high Mt. Mitoku. The rear temple, called "Nageire-do," is a designated National Treasure and is a rare structure built into a depression on a sheer vertical cliff face. It's unclear when exactly Nageire-do was built, but legend has it that the structure was thrown up ("nageire" in Japanese) from the level ground through the spiritual power of En no Ozuno, the founder of the mountain asceticism-shamanism tradition Shugendo. While it's necessary to climb a difficult mountain path in order to see Nageire-do up close, there is an observation point located on a road at the mountain base where it can be seen. In addition, Mt. Mitoku and Misasa Onsen were designated as Japan Heritage sites as "Places of purification of the six roots of perception and healing of the six senses - Japan's most dangerous national treasure and one of the world's finest radon hot springs."
