Sand baths have been beloved by hot spring visitors since 300 years ago. Wearing a special yukata, they warm their bodies to the core by covering themselves in sand that is heated by hot spring waters that flow below the beach.

This Sand Bath Hall is a bright, open facility built in harmony with the natural scenery, and offers a natural sand bath along the beach, a large indoor bath in the hall, and more. Its nickname is Saraku (with the kanji characters for sand and enjoyment), a wordplay on the word Saraku in the local Kagoshima dialect that means “wander.” The name incorporates the hope that visitors will comfortably take an enjoyable, “sandy” break while wandering around.

This natural sand bath, unique in the world, uses abundant hot spring waters that naturally flow along the beach. The beachside sand bath can only be used when the weather is good, but Saraku also features a roofed facility where you can enjoy sand baths at any time. According to scientific studies, sand baths are effective for various ailments such as nerve pain, rheumatism, lower back pain, and more. In addition, many young women have begun to use them recently to enhance their overall beauty, and they are also gaining popularity among foreign people as Japanese-style saunas.

*Temporary closure: Monday, December 9 to Friday, December 13, 2019