Shiratori Onsen Ueyu or Shimoyu? Two Baths in Ebino
Both Shiratori baths cost ¥500; compare Ueyu’s basin-view outdoor and steam baths with Shimoyu’s garden setting and private rooms.
Checked: September 27, 2026
The two Shiratori Onsen baths sit along the mountain road toward Ebino Kogen. Their price and hours are the same, so the choice comes down to the setting and whether you need a private bath. Ueyu stands higher on the slope, with a view over the Ebino basin. Shimoyu feels more enclosed by trees and has bookable private bathing.
| Ueyu | Shimoyu | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult admission for visitors from outside Ebino | ¥500 | ¥500 |
| Elementary-school admission | ¥250 | ¥250 |
| Bath hours | 7 a.m.–8 p.m. | 7 a.m.–8 p.m. |
| Regular closure | First Tuesday of the month | Third Tuesday of the month |
| Main draw | Basin-view outdoor bath and natural steam bath | Garden-style outdoor bath, natural steam bath and private baths |
Ueyu: the view is part of the stop
Ueyu is the more scenic first choice. The city describes views of the Ebino basin from the indoor bath and an outlook over Ebino City from the outdoor pool. A separate wooden building houses its natural steam bath, which uses local geothermal steam rather than a conventional electric sauna.
The city classifies Ueyu’s water as a simple acidic spring and explains that cold mountain water is heated by geothermal heat, allowing spring components to dissolve into it. That is a different system from a typical high-temperature bore spring, so it is better not to label the pools as standard source-flowing baths without qualification.
Shimoyu: more useful when privacy matters
Shimoyu’s outdoor bath is set in a garden-like, wooded area. It also has a natural steam bath and two private bathing rooms. The city ordinance lists a general private bath at ¥1,520 for 60 minutes, with a separate welfare bath for guests who need it. Private bathing is available from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; availability and booking are handled by the facility.
The public bath is also classed differently: the city calls it a simple spring and says spring components are dissolved by heating cold spring water with natural steam. If you are comparing only the water categories, Ueyu and Shimoyu do not have identical official descriptions.
Hours, access and winter roads
Both baths are open 7 a.m.–8 p.m. Ueyu normally closes on the first Tuesday of each month; Shimoyu on the third Tuesday. If either closure falls on a national holiday, the city rules move it to the following day. Temporary changes are possible, so check before driving up.
These are mountain facilities, not a walkable hot-spring street. From JR Ebino Station, a taxi takes roughly 15 minutes. By car, visiting both in one day is possible, but they are separate buildings on a sloped road rather than next-door baths. Ebino City warns that access roads can freeze in winter; check road conditions when temperatures drop.
For a post-hike plan and current mountain-area restrictions, see the Ebino Kogen after-sightseeing guide. If you want a smaller lowland bath near the interchange, Kakuto Onsen has a different meal-and-soak format.
