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With the manager Haruki Yamashita of the Himeshima village office — With the manager *Haruki Yamashita* of the Himeshima village office

We visited Kenko Kanri Centre "Hyoshimizu Onsen" in Himeshima-mura, Higashikunisaki-gun, Ōita. Hyoshimizu Onsen is located at Himeshima Island. You can take a ferry from Imi Port in Kunisaki City to go to the island. It will take about 20 minutes.

Hyoshimizu Onsen is located at 10-minute drive from Himeshima Port. “Hyoshimizu” is one of the seven wonders of Himeshima Island. According to the folklore, Himekosonokami (A female God) tried to find water to gargle her mouth for rinsing off the black tooth-painting but she couldn’t find, and then she suddenly clapped her hands (“To clap one’s hands” is “拍子 Hyoshi” in Japanese). Then, water gushed from the ground. That is why this spring is called as Hyoshimizu (literally “Water of Hyoshi”).

This is the source of Hyoshimizu. You can find it next to the building. The water gurgles out from the ground. It has been existing from a long time ago; however, no one knows for sure the origin. As the story of Himekosonokami is found in Nihon Shoki which was written in 720, this spring has about 1300 years of history. Also no one knows for sure the origin of the seven wonders of Himeshima as well. Himeshima might be a mysterious island.

This is the reception.

This is the dressing room. Lockers are available.

There are two bathtubs in the bathroom. The right one is a hot bath, and the left one is a cool bath. The entire floor is cover with brown deposited minerals.

This is the hot bath. It can warm you up thoroughly.

This is the cool bath. It contains the original cool spring as is. This is so cool that you may not be able to get in this bath without heating up your body in the hot bath beforehand. Taking the cool and hot baths one after the other is quite soothing.

There are two faucets, one is for the original cool spring which is 25°C|77°F, and the other is for the heated water which is 78°C|172.4°F. You can adjust the bath temperature by mixing these two waters.

The water is drinkable. It is carbonated and the mouth with filled with the iron fragrance when you drink it.

They are frequent bathers - Kinji, Yozo, Sunao, and Morisaku. They chatted with each other in the bath. They said this spring is completely different from a normal home bath, and this spring can ease knee pain and heat rash.

He is Haruki from the Himeshima village office who is in charge of Hyoshimizu Onsen. He passionately taught us the history of this spring. Himeshima is famous for the cultivation of Kuruma Shrimp. If you visit Himeshima, you can enjoy both the spring and the shrimp.