Tokko no Yu — Attraction in Izu

This historic onsen embodies the soul of Shuzenji, where natural thermal springs have been cherished since the 9th century. According to legend, the great Buddhist monk Kobo Daishi struck the ground here with his tokko (ritual implement), causing the first hot spring to gush forth - giving the baths their name and sacred reputation.

The Experience: • Traditional wooden architecture that has welcomed bathers for generations • Waters particularly valued for their skin-smoothing properties • Peaceful garden views from the bathing areas

While not luxurious by modern standards, Tokko no Yu offers something rarer - an authentic connection to Japan's onsen traditions. The adjacent free foot bath (ashiyu) lets passersby sample the waters, continuing the communal spirit that has defined this spot for over 1,200 years.

More than just a bath, it's a living piece of Izu's cultural heritage.

Tip: Visit early morning when steam rises dramatically from the waters. The nearby Tokko-no-Yu Chaya serves excellent post-bath matcha.

Historical Note: Heian-period aristocrats and Edo-era samurai all made pilgrimages to these waters, believing in their restorative powers. The current building preserves design elements from Meiji-era renovations.

Perfect for: • Onsen traditionalists • History enthusiasts • Those seeking the "real Japan" beyond tourist spots • Walking tours of Shuzenji's...

独鈷の湯（とっこのゆ）は、静岡県伊豆市・修善寺温泉の中心、桂川の河原にある修善寺温泉発祥の湯です。 伝説では、平安時代に弘法大師空海が修行でこの地を訪れた際、川で病気の父の体を洗う少年を見て、その孝行心に打たれ、持っていた仏具「独鈷杵」で川の岩を打ち、霊泉を湧き出させたといわれています。 かつては入浴や足湯が可能でしたが、現在は法律上の理由から入浴・足湯ともに不可で、見学のみとなっています。それでも桂川に突き出した石組みの湯船と東屋は、修善寺温泉の象徴的な風景で、観光や写真撮影の人気スポットです。 周囲には竹林の小径や修禅寺、河原湯などがあり、散策の途中に立ち寄ると歴史と温泉文化を同時に

Tokko-no-Yu, located in the heart of Shuzenji Onsen in Izu City, Shizuoka, is considered the birthplace of the hot spring town. According to legend, during the Heian period, the Buddhist monk Kobo Daishi (Kukai) visited the area and saw a boy washing his sick father in the cold river. Moved by the boy’s devotion, he struck the riverbed rock with his ritual tool, a tokko-sho, causing hot spring water to gush forth. In the past, visitors could bathe or enjoy it as a footbath, but due to legal changes, bathing is no longer allowed. Today, it remains a symbolic landmark of Shuzenji Onsen, with its stone bath structure and pavilion jutting into the Katsura River—a favorite spot for sightseeing and photography. Surrounded by attractions like the Bamboo Grove Path, Shuzenji Temple, and Kawarayu footbath, it’s an ideal stop during a stroll through the town. Even without bathing, the gentle sound of the river and the historic setting make Tokko-no-Yu a place where the spirit of Shuzenji’s origins...

Contrary to information currently posted on the Google information panel and elsewhere, Tokko-no-Yu is not a public footbath. It is a historical landmark. The sign in Japanese says people are prohibited from bathing in it, including using it as a footbath and asks visitors not to enter. There are public footbaths nearby that you are...