
Mimata Onsen Day Trip: Choose Between the Kaikan and Kameya
Compare Mimata Onsen Kaikan and Kameya Ryokan for a 2026 day trip. Check current hours, prices, bus days and the closed public spa before travelling.
Mimata Onsen is in the hills of Hamada, Shimane. In autumn 2026, the choice for day visitors is between the simple Mimata Onsen Kaikan public bath and Kameya Ryokan’s afternoon-only outside bathing. Their adult admission differs by just ¥10, but their hours and feel are quite different.
One old listing is especially easy to follow by mistake: Mimata Onsen National Health Resort closed on March 31, 2026. The replacement day-bath facility, Mimata Onsen Ururu, is scheduled to open in December. Until it actually opens, plan around the two facilities below rather than the old resort or the new building.
| Mimata Onsen Kaikan | Kameya Ryokan | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult admission | ¥500 | ¥510 |
| Day-use hours | 8 a.m.–9 p.m.; last entry 8:30 p.m. | 2–8 p.m. |
| Regular closing day | Monday; if Monday is a public holiday, the next day | Tuesday, according to Hamada City’s 2026 notice |
| What it is | A small public bath | A ryokan bath open to day visitors |
| Best for | An early, low-cost soak | An afternoon visit or a Monday alternative |
Mimata Onsen Kaikan: the practical first stop
The Kaikan is a traditional neighbourhood bath at the entrance to the hot-spring district. Hamada’s tourism association lists one indoor bath and three showers; the appeal is the spring and the low price, not a large spa complex. There are around ten free parking spaces.
| Kaikan details | Current listing |
|---|---|
| Admission | ¥500 for high-school age and older; ¥250 for elementary- and junior-high-school pupils |
| Hours | 8 a.m.–9 p.m.; last bathers admitted at 8:30 p.m. |
| Regular closure | Monday; moves to Tuesday when Monday is a public holiday |
The tourism association lists the source as an alkaline simple spring with a pH of 9.7; Hamada’s visitor information gives the source temperature as 41.6°C. Those are source figures, not a promise that the bath itself sits at that temperature. The Kaikan is the easier choice if you want an uncomplicated soak before continuing around western Shimane.
Kameya: a ryokan bath, but only in the afternoon
| Kameya day-use details | Current listing |
|---|---|
| Hours | 2–8 p.m. |
| Adult admission | ¥510 |
| Source water | 47.1°C; alkaline simple spring |
| Regular closure | Tuesday, according to Hamada City’s 2026 notice |
Kameya’s source temperature differs from the Kaikan’s 41.6°C listing.
Kameya offers a ryokan setting and a shorter afternoon window. The 2–8 p.m. schedule is for day visitors; overnight bathing hours are separate. Confirm day-use availability with the inn before making a special trip.
Children’s admission differs between official listings: Hamada City gives ¥360 for junior-high pupils and ¥250 for elementary pupils, while the tourism association lists ¥360 for both groups. Confirm the applicable rate with Kameya before visiting with children.
Getting there without a car takes timetable planning
By car, either bath is about ten minutes from the Kanagi Smart Interchange. The Kaikan’s free lot holds around ten standard cars; Kameya’s tourism listing gives eight. At busy times, do not assume there will be space for a large vehicle.
The public-transport route listed by the tourism association is a two-part trip: take the Iwami Kotsu Hasa line from JR Hamada Station to Shichijo, then transfer to Hamada’s Kanagi community bus towards Unjo-Kusa-Mimata. The current visitor listing says that second bus runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Check the outbound and return connections for your exact date before you set off; this is a rural service, not a frequent town bus. If the transfer does not line up, a taxi from Hamada may be more realistic than building the day around a long wait.
The closed resort and the upcoming replacement
The National Health Resort was Mimata’s best-known large public facility, but Hamada City confirms it closed on March 31, 2026. Do not rely on older blog posts, map photos or search snippets that still list it as open.
The city and Shimane’s official tourism site currently describe Mimata Onsen Ururu as a new day-use facility planned for December 2026. That is a scheduled opening, not a guarantee that it is operating on your travel date. Check for an opening announcement before changing your plan; until then, the Kaikan and Kameya remain the relevant choices in the city’s published interim list.
For other western Shimane baths, see the Asahi Onsen Asahiso guide or Yunotsu Onsen day-use guide. They are separate stops, so factor the drive or bus transfer into your route.
Official visitor information and sources
- [Hamada City: 2026 closure notice and interim day-bath list](https://www.city.hamada.shimane.jp/www/contents/1769682356417/index.html) - [Hamada Tourism Association: Mimata Onsen Kaikan hours, prices and access](https://kankou-hamada.or.jp/guidepost/6188) - [Hamada Tourism Association: Kameya day-use bathing hours and prices](https://kankou-hamada.or.jp/guidepost/23954) - [Kameya Ryokan: spring information and bathing details](https://mimata-kameya.com/onsen.php) - [Shimane Tourism: Ururu opening plan and interim facility information](https://www.kankou-shimane.com/pickup/46781.html)Checked: September 28, 2026
Tags: Mimata Onsen, Hamada, Shimane, day-use onsen, Kameya Ryokan, public bath, Japan travel, onsen access, local bus, alkaline spring, hot spring, seasonal facility, day trip, western Shimane, bathing hours
