Kumo no Ueno Hot Spring 雲の上の温泉

Setting

Kumo no Ueno Hot Spring is ideally situated in central Shikoku, not far by car from the scenic hikes of the Shikoku Karst and the Shimanto River.

Located just 2 km from Yusuhara’s main city center, this onsen is one of the few and best in the area.

The architect Kengo Kuma has been commissioned to build the structure consisting of this onsen and the The Kengo Kuma Museum & Gallery, is connected to the onsen, allowing visitors to walk from the gallery directly to the hot spring.

There are 5 other buildings in Yusuhara commissioned by Kengo Kuma.

The Kumo no Ueno Onsen

The onsen itself is spacious, featuring a rest area, a restaurant, and a connected shop. It includes a spacious sauna, two outdoor baths, and a large indoor bath. The outdoor baths offer stunning views of the nearby mountains and forest, creating a peaceful and beautiful atmosphere.

The complex also hosts a swimming pool, which we didn’t use. Combo tickets for the pool and onsen are available.

Guests staying at the Kumo no Ueno Annex Hotel can use the onsen for free, but they need to get a coupon from the staff each time they wish to go. Towels are provided at the onsen reception, so there’s no need to bring your own. A shuttle departs hourly from the hotel.

For day visitors, the cost is only 700 yen. The onsen is open from 11:30 AM to 9:00 PM (on Wednesdays from 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM).