Yuda Onsen

Located in Yamaguchi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Yuda Onsen is a historic hot spring town with roots stretching back over 800 years. Its name appears in the ancient "Suō Amidaji Documents" from the 13th century, though the hot spring is believed to have existed even earlier. According to legend, the spring was discovered when a white fox appeared nightly at a small temple pond to soak its injured leg—a story that lives on in the form of white fox statues and monuments scattered throughout the area.

The spring water is an alkaline simple hot spring, known for its smooth, supple feel that pampers the skin. The waters here are reputed to relieve nerve and muscle pain and is also celebrated as a "bijin no yu"—a “beautifying bath.” An impressive 2,000 tons of hot spring water flows daily from seven different sources.

Yuda Onsen is a walker’s delight, dotted with foot baths and hand baths that make it easy to enjoy the healing waters casually as you explore. The area offers a wide variety of accommodations, ranging from budget-friendly business hotels to traditional ryokan inns and luxury retreats. Among them, the historic Matsudaya Inn stands out as a gathering place for Meiji Restoration figures.

With nearby attractions such as the Rurikō-ji Five-Story Pagoda and the Akiyoshidai Plateau, Yuda Onsen also makes a great base for sightseeing in the region.