Staying at Mimatsu in Awara Onsen: Baths, Gardens and Dates to Check

Mimatsu is a good fit if the ryokan itself is part of the plan. Its two large baths, Taiyoden and Meigetsuden, have distinct designs and alternate between men and women. The garden and the building give you reasons to slow down between soaks; the bath rotation means you should check what will be open during your stay rather than assuming both sides are available at once.

What to expect from the baths

Taiyoden has a domed roof and a garden-facing setting. Meigetsuden is the other large public bath. Mimatsu describes the spring as sodium-calcium chloride water, also classified as a saline spring containing chloride and earthy components. Awara’s spring temperatures are published as a regional range; Mimatsu does not map that range to a specific bath temperature.

The official spa information lists day-use bathing from 2 pm to 6 pm, with last admission at 5 pm.

The set includes a rental bath towel and a face towel to keep. Hours and availability can change; Mimatsu has posted separate closure and day-use suspension notices. Check the latest notice for your dates before making the detour.

Is an overnight stay worthwhile?

Staying gives you more breathing room around the bath rotation, dinner and the garden. Arrive with enough time to settle in, take one bath before or after dinner, then leave the following morning for a second visit if the schedule allows. A day-use visit is better for a single soak, but the shorter window leaves less room for a relaxed visit or a late arrival.

For a quick, lower-cost public bath, Sentopia Awara is a more straightforward option on days when it is open. Mimatsu is easier to justify when you want the architecture and garden to be part of the night, not just a backdrop on the way to the bath.

How Mimatsu scores

The seven editorial scores are reference points, not guest-survey results:

Setting is the clear strength in this comparison; it matters less if you arrive late and leave early.

Check Mimatsu room types and dates

Getting there and planning the day

JR Awaraonsen Station is the Shinkansen connection; Awara-Yunomachi Station sits closer to the hot-spring district. Confirm which station your transfer or pick-up uses. For a Tojinbo visit, it is usually easier to see the coast before checking in, then stay at the ryokan for the evening. In winter, allow extra time for road and rail conditions rather than planning a tight connection.

When you arrive, check the current bath-rotation board and ask about the route from your room. That matters if someone in your party has limited mobility or would rather not walk far at night. Guests sensitive to noise can also ask whether a room is near the lobby, dining area or group-guest routes.

Dates and details worth confirming

Mimatsu has announced maintenance closures and temporary changes to day-use bathing, so an old schedule may no longer apply. The latest notice lists closures on September 30, October 1–6 and October 13, 2026. The Taiyoden rotation also changes from October 1; which side opens at night and early morning depends on the calendar month. Check the spa page and current notices for your exact date.

The property suits a slower visit, with time for the garden and the two different bath settings. If your main goal is one brief soak, a public bath with a longer opening window may be easier. Either way, use Mimatsu’s current schedule rather than relying on a generic Awara Onsen timetable.

A practical way to use the baths

Ask at check-in which bath is assigned to men and women that evening and when the rotation changes. A short soak before dinner leaves the option of returning later; the next morning may offer a different bath and a quieter garden view. Day visitors have less margin for changing, storing bags and returning to the station, so start with the bath you most want to use.

Awara-Yunomachi is the closer station for the hot-spring district; JR Awaraonsen is the Shinkansen connection. If Tojinbo is on your itinerary, visit before checking in and keep the evening local. Reviews refer to particular rooms and busy periods, so ask about noise, the walk to the bath and room location if those could affect your stay; raise any room issue with staff while you are still there.

Sources

• Mimatsu: Hot springs and day-use bathing
• Mimatsu: Notices
• Image: Awaraonsen1.jpg on Wikimedia Commons

Mimatsu, Awara Onsen, Fukui, Taiyoden, Meigetsuden