Konsen-ji (Itano)
金泉寺
A hot-spring destination where the bath itself is the sightseeing.
Best season
Year-round, best in cold months (Nov–Mar)
Time needed
1–3 hours (half a day with a meal)
Admission
Day-use bath roughly ¥500–1,500 (≈ $3–9)
Opening hours
Typically 10:00–21:00; day-use hours vary by inn
Photos
Photos from Wikimedia Commons — click any image for the photographer and licence.
What this place is
Konsen-ji (金泉寺) is a Kōya-san Shingon temple in Itano, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. Temple 3 on the Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage, the main image is of Shaka Nyorai. Said to have been founded by Gyōki, it was rebuilt in the Edo period after being burned by the Chōsokabe.
Background text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)
Why it is worth the trip
- Mineral-rich water that locals have soaked in for generations — each source has its own temperature, colour and smell.
- A bathing town you can wander in a yukata, with steam drifting between wooden inns and public baths.
- Open-air rotenburo tubs framed by mountains, river valleys or the sea, which change completely with the season.
What you can do here
- Take a day-use bath (higaeri onsen) even without staying overnight — most inns open their baths in the afternoon.
- Try the free foot baths (ashiyu) dotted around town for a quick warm-up between stops.
- Buy a bath-hopping pass and compare two or three different sources in one afternoon.
- Eat the local onsen specialities — steam-cooked eggs, puddings and vegetables sold near the sources.
Getting there
We do not have step-by-step transit directions for this spot yet. Open the location on Google Maps for routes from where you are staying.
Good to know before you go
- Wash and rinse at the shower stations before entering the tub; the bath water is shared.
- Some traditional baths still restrict tattoos — look for tattoo-friendly inns or private family baths (kashikiri).
- Bring a small towel; larger bath towels are usually rented or sold at the counter.
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