Fall in love with Hiroshima in winter—hit the slopes and then soak in a hidden hot spring paradise!

Located at the southwestern tip of Japan’s main island, Hiroshima may not be widely familiar to many, but mention the iconic red torii gate standing in the sea, Hiroshima’s savory okonomiyaki similar to Osaka’s, or the site of the world’s first atomic bombing, and you’ll likely have some knowledge and admiration for this place. Especially under the influence of the song “Hiroshima Mon Amour,” it adds an extra layer of romantic intrigue!

While the charm of winter often brings to mind the snowy landscapes of Japan’s Tohoku region or Hokkaido, Hiroshima also offers unique snow-season experiences. The ski season here runs from December to March of the following year. Due to its terrain, Hiroshima and the neighboring Tottori Prefecture boast an exceptional concentration of ski resorts—Hiroshima alone accounts for the majority. From skiing to snowboarding, these activities attract numerous visitors eager for winter thrills. On clear winter days, you can even admire the snow-draped mountain scenery nearby. "Yahata Highland 191," situated along National Route 191, is a long-established ski resort in Hiroshima, offering six different ski runs. In addition to gentle slopes designed for children, the resort thoughtfully provides heated buses where tired visitors can rest—a very considerate touch.

After sweating it out on the snowy slopes and enjoying an exciting, novel extreme experience, the nearby hot spring villages around the ski resorts are the perfect place to soothe weary muscles. Since the Edo period, Hiroshima’s Takamiya Onsen has been renowned as the “Great Immortal’s Hot Spring.” It is said that this weakly radioactive cold spring is effective in treating chronic digestive disorders, neuralgia, skin conditions, and eye diseases. As a result, many people visit to soak in the waters for therapeutic purposes, helping the hot spring gain its fame—a legacy that has lasted for over a hundred years.

Takamiya Yunomori is popular among locals for its reasonable prices and well-equipped bathing facilities. Every day, the moment it opens, a line of eager bathers forms outside. The large bathing area includes not only indoor baths but also open-air rotenburo (outdoor baths), each offering specific health benefits. For example, the “Sake Bath,” which is replenished daily with fresh sake, helps improve blood circulation by allowing the skin to absorb alcohol, thus warming the body. There’s also the “Herbal Bath,” featuring mugwort or, seasonally in autumn and winter, yuzu (a local specialty of Takamiya Town), as well as the “Beating Bath,” where water is used to massage the body for therapeutic effects.

Another hot spring treasure, Kunita Onsen, emerges from the forest and is considered a magical spring in ancient legends capable of healing both physical and emotional wounds. The spring water here is a rare bicarbonate mineral water for the San’in-San’yō region, with a slightly milky, somewhat cloudy appearance that may vary in concentration depending on daily flow. Emerging from underground at 260 meters deep, the water is known to cleanse and soften the skin—earning it the nickname “Beauty Spring.” It is especially effective for chronic skin conditions and neuralgia.

Kunita Onsen’s Mori no Izumi (Forest Spring) was ranked second in a 2005 Japanese travel magazine evaluation of hot spring lodgings in China. The Mori no Izumi complex is expansive, with the main building housing hot spring baths, a lounge, a hotel, and restaurants. Other facilities include an annex selling vegetables and bread, a food processing experience center called Shokusai-kan, and a collection of holiday cottages named “House of the Four Seasons.” From the moment you step into Mori no Izumi, you can feel its warm and inviting atmosphere, making you want to linger longer. A skiing and hot spring experience in the Hiroshima area offers a unique and delightful sensory journey through winter in Japan.

Phone: 0826-37-0349
Hours: Early December to mid-March, 08:00–17:00; weekend hours may vary slightly
Address: Nishi-Yahatahara, Geihoku-cho, Yamagata-gun, Hiroshima Prefecture
Access: From the Togouchi Interchange on the Chugoku Expressway, take National Route 191 toward Masuda (approx. 29 km)
Website: www.hiroko-group.co.jp/yawata191

Takamiya Yunomori
Phone: 0826-59-0059
Hours: 10:00–21:00
Closed: Second Tuesday of every month
Address: 1787-1, Harada, Takamiya-cho, Asaminami City, Hiroshima Prefecture
Access: From Hiroshima Center 9 bus stop, take a highway bus to Mitoshiro, transfer to a loop bus, and get off at Takamiya Fukushi Center
Website: www.yunomori.net

Kunita Onsen Mori no Izumi
Phone: 0824-53-7021
Hours: 10:00–21:00
Closed: Third Tuesday of every month
Address: 311-3, Izumiyoshida, Kunita-cho, Miyoshi City, Hiroshima Prefecture
Access: Take the JR Yabe Line from Hiroshima-Masuga Station for about 1 hour 50 minutes, alight at JR Miyoshi Station, then transfer to a Biei Kotsu bus and get off at Kunita Onsen-mae (approx. 26 minutes)
Website: www.kimita-onsen.com/

Read more: Soaking in Hot Springs in Snowy Landscapes (Provided by Tripass Attractions)