THINGS TO DO TIPS TOURS 

The footbath in Shionoe Onsen, a place to enjoy the four season landscapes

Life Takamatsu ,

Located where the Naiba river and the Koutou river start to flow together, Shionoe Onsen, also called the inner room of Takamatsu (the hot spring region around the city), is situated in Shionoechou, and is the host spring area with the oldest history in Kagawa prefecture.

2019-04-05 11.30.09Shionoe Osen was discovered by a famous monk named Gyoki, so it is also called Gyoki spring, Gyoki-no-Yu. Since the Edo period, it became a popular hot spring spa by the word of mouth. The hot spring with hydrogen sulfide can heal rheumatism, neuralgia, skin disease, diabetes, and women’s disease. Because of the good results and development, Shionoe Onsen is listed as one of the “National Recuperation Hot Spring Area” by the Ministry of the Environment.

There are only two “National Recuperation Hot Spring Area” in Shikoku, one is Yunouchi hot spring in Ehime prefecture, and the other is Shionoe hot spring.

To be registered as a “National Recuperation Hot Spring Area” there are some requirements to fulfilled. First of all the hot spring should have great effects of recuperation, the spring volume should be sufficient, and its environmental sanitation should be irreproachable. Moreover, the view should be beautiful, and the climate suitable for recuperation.

2019-04-05 11.31.00It only takes one hour by bus from Takamatsu station to Shionoe Onsen. The mountain and river view here is totally different from Kotohira Onsen which is full of the temple-town atmosphere. In spring, the green mountains are decorated with pink Sakura. During summer, there are lots of fireflies flying over the Koutou river running through the Shionoe hot spring town. In autumn, the mountains get some warmness covering themselves with red leaves.

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10002822Photo credit: Kagawa tourist association

Sakura festival in spring, Firefly festival in summer, Hot-spring festival and Red leaves festival in autumn each of these festivals celebrating the season and symbolizing the best of Shionoe Onsen greatest scenery in this silent hot spring valley.

2019-04-05 11.34.31There is a free footbath nearby the hot spring named Gyoki-no-Yu recommendable for anyone who would like to just relax while bathing their feet to experience the local hot spring.

2019-04-05 11.42.30Nearby the footbath there is a small temple worshiping the statue of Gyoki.

2019-04-05 12.04.02Nearby the footbath there is a small temple worshiping the statue of Gyoki.

2019-04-05 11.53.16The soba is harvested in Shionoe in the Asan mountain located at the border between Kagawa and Tokushima prefectures. The village being situated on a hill, the sunlight exposition is short pushing the locals to grow soba as staple foodstuffs.

The soba noodles at Gyoukian is made following the traditional process which used a waterwheel to mill the soba. The texture of soba noodles get soft but not pulpy, and is totally different from the springy Udon.

After going to the hot spring and eating soba, it will be a good choice to visit the local product center in front of the bus station. You can find lots of vegetables and fruits from local farmers, and milk soft cream which you can not be missed. The milk soft cream uses the milk from the local Fujikawa pasture producing a rich and delicious taste.

Finishing this wonderful journey by the milk soft cream would create the perfect souvenir.

INFORMATION

Access: Take bus 51 to the final stop Iwazaki (岩崎), or bus 53 to the final stop Shionoe(鹽江) from Takamatsu(高松) station (platform ⑤, JPY980) or Kawaramachi(瓦町)stop (platform ④, JPY960).
Bus line map and timetable

Shionoe hot spring tourist association

Gyoki-no-Yu (行基の湯)

  • Address: 〒761-1612 香川県高松市塩江町安原上東37-1
  • Business time: 9：00～22：00（Nov. to March ~21:00）
  • Closed on: Tuesday of the first and third week every month (postpone to next day on a public holiday)
  • Price: Adult JPY470,  above 60 years old JPY360, Children 6~11 years old JPY240
  • TEL: +81-87-893-1126
  • Web: https://www.my-kagawa.jp/point/258/
  • Wi-Fi: N/A
  • Language: Japanese
  • Credit card: N/A

Soba shop Gyoukian (そば処 行基庵)

  • Address: 〒761-1612 香川県高松市塩江町安原上東37-1
  • Business time: 11：30～14：30, 14:00 last order
  • Closed on: Tuesday
  • TEL: +81-87-893-1726
  • Web: http://www.shokokai.or.jp/37/373611S0098
  • Wi-Fi: N/A
  • Language: Japanese
  • Credit card: Not available

Footbath Gyoki-no-Yu (行基の湯)

  • Address: 〒761-1612 香川県高松市塩江町安原上東37-1
  • Business time: 11：00～17：000
  • Closed on: Tuesday of the first and third week every month (postpone to next day on a public holiday)
  • Price: Free (towel: JPY150 (sell in Gyoki no yu))
  • TEL: +81-87-893-1136
  • Web: https://www.shionoe.jp/
  • Wi-Fi: N/A
  • Language: Japanese
  • Credit card: Not available