Misasa, town in Tōhaku district, Tottori prefecture, Japan
Misasa is a hot spring town in Tottori Prefecture, set along the banks of the Misasa River in a forested mountain valley. The town is made up mostly of traditional ryokans, public bathhouses, wooden footbridges, and riverside walking paths.
The hot springs of Misasa are said to have been discovered over 850 years ago by a monk who followed a white wolf to the water's edge. The area grew into a well-known bathing destination over the centuries, and several ryokan buildings from the Edo and Meiji periods are now listed as cultural properties.
The name Misasa is thought to derive from an old word for waterfall, which fits the town's position deep in a narrow river valley. Along the riverbanks, bathhouses and ryokans stand side by side, and the rhythm of the day here tends to follow the hours of soaking and rest.
The town sits close to the city of Kurayoshi, which is easy to reach by bus or car in a short time from there. A visit works well at any time of year, though spring and autumn bring comfortable walking weather along the river paths.
The water at Misasa contains one of the highest recorded concentrations of radon among natural hot springs anywhere in the world. This drew scientists and physicians to the area in the 20th century to study the effects of low-level radon exposure on the human body.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
