One of the world's top radon hot springs, with 850 years of history, a riverside open-air bath, and a yukata-friendly resort street.
Misasa Onsen (Misasa Hot Spring) is an ancient spa town along the Mitoku River in Misasa Town, Tottori Prefecture, renowned worldwide for its exceptionally high radon (radium) content. Its waters are said to be good for 'bathing, drinking, and inhaling alike,' and visitors come from across Japan and abroad seeking the Hormesis effect—believed to enhance immunity and the body's natural healing power.
The hot spring is said to have been discovered about 850 years ago, with a legend that a white wolf was seen bathing in the spring. Along the Mitoku River that flows through the resort, a free open-air riverbank bath known as the 'Kawara-buro' is one of the area's signature attractions, where guests can bathe to the sound of the flowing water.
Inns and souvenir shops line the resort street around Misasa Bridge, making for a pleasant stroll through a classic hot-spring town. Nearby is Sanbutsuji Temple on Mt. Mitoku, home to the nationally treasured Nageiredō Hall, making it easy to combine temple exploration with a soak in the springs for a full tour of central Tottori.