Kirishima Onsen lies on the lower slopes of the Kirishima Mountains with a distant view over Kagoshima Bay and Sakurajima below. The area is made up of over a dozen hot springs, of which the largest and best know is Maruo Onsen. With its high concentration of hotels and central location, Maruo Onsen is the representative resort town of the entire Kirishima Onsen area.
The hot spring towns around Kirishima Onsen are dotted with ryokan and hotels of various sizes. Their many hot spring sources appear at every turn, each billowing clouds of steam from what look like large smoke stacks.
There are so many hot spring sources in this volcanic region that they are literally coming up in the streets, venting sulfuric waters said to alleviate ailments such as stomach disorders, nerve damage, and diabetes.
Hot spring sources
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Hot spring cooked food stand
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Some of Kirishima Onsen's noteworthy baths include Sakura Sakura Onsen, a bath house featuring slightly radioactive mud said to be good for your skin. The mud can be spread over your face and body like a mud pack which is then washed off in the hot spring baths.
Also notable is the Kirishima Iwasaki Hotel which claims to have one of the largest outdoor baths in Japan. The hotel's bath facilities include a variety of pleasing features such as sauna, waterfalls, and a large variety of baths to choose from.
While Kirishima Onsen is quite heavily developed, its high quality waters and its proximity to the natural beauty of Kirishima make it a good base for exploring the national park. Furthermore, it is close to Ebino Kogen and Kirishima Shrine.
Kagoshima as seen from the Iwasaki Hotel just before sunrise
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