Wakayama Arida City
A natural hot spring with a hot spring nano-mist sauna and alternating hot-and-cold bathing
"Aridagawa Onsen Hikari no Yu" is a day-trip hot spring facility in Arida City, Wakayama Prefecture. Its natural sodium chloride spring has a rich, silky texture, and alternating between heated baths and cold spring baths gently warms you from the inside out. It offers two types of sauna: a hot spring nano-mist sauna said to be the first of its kind in the world, and a high-temperature sauna where Kishu binchotan charcoal's far-infrared heat works deeply over time. In the smooth cold plunge bath fed by water from the Aridagawa River's underground flow, you can cool down comfortably. In the open-air area, which features a large open-air rock bath, walking bath, tsubo-yu, and reclining bath, you can also enjoy fresh-air bathing. With the Kishu seafood dishes at the restaurant Mansai, a comic corner, and Thai massage, you can relax all day after your bath.

An indoor bath where you can enjoy alternating hot-and-cold bathing by moving between two tubs: one with heated hot spring water and one with cold spring water. The silky sodium chloride spring gently warms the body, and alternating between hot and cold helps restore circulation, leaving you feeling refreshed and awakened from deep within.

An open-air area lined with a large open-air rock bath, walking bath, tsubo-yu, and reclining bath, each with its own character. You can enjoy a variety of bathing styles while taking in the natural atmosphere, and spend a relaxing after-bath moment in the fresh-air bathing space equipped with reclining chairs and tatami areas for lying down.

A private bath created in response to requests from guests who wanted to enjoy the hot spring with their family in complete privacy. It features a spacious tub that even large families can use comfortably, and its appeal lies in the private setting where you can spend time only with the people who matter to you without worrying about others. It also comes with handrails and chairs with armrests, so it can be used with peace of mind.

A high-temperature sauna room with Kishu binchotan charcoal covering the entire wall surface. The gentle far-infrared heat emitted by the charcoal slowly reaches deep into your body. Frequent auto-löyly subtly raises the humidity in the room, helping you sweat efficiently. Wrapped in crisp dry heat, you can spend time quietly facing yourself.

A hot spring nano-mist sauna filled with finely heated steam made from the Hikari no Yu source water. The steam, which is gentle on both skin and breathing, slowly warms your body while providing the unique comfort of a hot spring. Enjoy a soft, gentle sweating experience that contrasts with the high-temperature sauna.

A cold plunge bath filled with underground water from the clear Aridagawa River, prized for its smooth feel against the skin. The soft water gently tightens a heated body and creates a pleasant cool-down after the sauna. The spacious tub also makes the transition to fresh-air bathing on the open-air area's reclining chairs and lying-down space especially comfortable.
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Open Year-Round
By car
By train and bus
Parking for 150 cars (large buses allowed, EV charging station available)
Visited by the Editor-in-Chief
The Editor-in-Chief visited in person in March 2026
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