Shizuoka · Chubu
道の駅 川根温泉
All baths use continuously flowing spring water. Pick up Kawane tea at the farm shop beside the railway.
Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph
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Eat, shop, play, take in the view or rest. Choose from the station’s strengths to suit your day.
9:00–19:00; final admission 18:30. ¥820 for junior high school students and older, ¥620 for elementary school children, free for preschool children.
Last orders 16:00 weekdays, 18:00 weekends and public holidays. After 14:00 on weekdays, only noodles, desserts and drinks are served.
9:00–16:30. It closes before the baths, so browse before a long soak.
Free, 9:00–19:00. Bring a towel to dry your feet or buy one at the neighboring shop.
The rest room and toilets are open 24 hours, including for a break without bathing.
The main facility closes on the first and third Tuesdays. Steam trains are suspended long-term; check Oigawa Railway's official operating calendar if you are coming for the trains.
Natsuki Kanzaki suggests doing your shopping before the hot spring. The farm shop closes at 16:30, while the baths close at 19:00. Reverse that order and you may miss both Kawane tea and log-grown shiitake after your soak. With children, the games area behind the shop and the second-floor manga corner are useful, even on rainy days. Keep train expectations in check: steam trains are suspended long-term, while Thomas trains and electric trains run. The sight of a train passing beyond the outdoor baths is still distinctive to this place.
Michi-no-Eki Kawane Onsen is a roadside station in Sasamado, Kawanecho, Shimada, along Prefectural Route 63, the Fujieda–Tenryu Line. On one site are the Kawane Onsen Fureai no Izumi day-use hot spring, a farm shop selling Kawane tea and log-grown shiitake mushrooms, a free footbath, and the first-floor Moe restaurant. All 11 baths across the men's and women's areas use continuously flowing spring water. The baths and footbath open 9:00–19:00, while the farm shop closes at 16:30; the rest room and toilets are available 24 hours. The main facility closes on the first and third Tuesdays, or the next weekday if either is a public holiday, but the roadside station shop and Fureai Cottages are listed as open year-round. It is a five-minute walk from Kawaneonsen-Sasamado Station on Oigawa Railway, whose Oigawa Main Line passes just beyond the outdoor baths.
There are 11 baths across the men's and women's areas, all supplied with continuously flowing spring water. The water is a sodium chloride spring (hypertonic, mildly alkaline, high-temperature), emerging naturally at 48.7°C at 545 liters per minute. Alongside separate outdoor baths for men and women are indoor, charcoal and hinoki cypress baths; the hinoki baths become cold-water baths from June through October. Shampoo, conditioner and body soap are provided at the washing stations, and free hair dryers in the changing rooms. Admission is ¥820 for junior high school students and older, including ¥150 bathing tax; ¥620 for elementary school children; and free for preschool children. Shimada residents who show official identification pay ¥590 for adults and ¥390 for elementary school children.
The roadside station farm shop stocks fresh locally grown Kawane vegetables, handmade manju (sweet filled buns) and Kawane tea. Its featured products are Kawane tea and shiitake grown on natural logs. The selection changes with the seasons: cherry blossoms in spring, new tea in early summer, summer vegetables, shiitake in autumn and dried persimmons in winter. Kawane Onsen's Maboroshi no Shio Ramen uses salt made by boiling down hot spring water. It has been recognized as a Shimada specialty, and students at Shimada Commercial High School drafted the original package design. The main-building shop also sells handmade manju, tea soba, tea yokan (a sweet bean jelly) and Oigawa Railway merchandise. The farm shop opens 9:00–16:30 and the main-building shop 9:00–19:00, so the farm shop closes first if you leave shopping until after your bath.
The outdoor baths overlook the Oigawa Railway tracks. The facility advises that its steam locomotive trains are currently suspended long-term. Blue Train express services and electric trains formerly used in the Tokyo and Kansai regions pass by, and Thomas the Tank Engine trains are scheduled mainly on weekends and public holidays from May through December. The Oigawa Main Line itself operates only between Kanaya and Kawaneonsen-Sasamado. Train frequencies and operating days change, so check Oigawa Railway's official site before a train-focused visit.
Spend your time at the station or add somewhere nearby. These ideas help you plan around your companions and the weather.
The farm shop closes at 16:30, while bathing continues until 19:00. Buy Kawane tea, log-grown shiitake and seasonal vegetables first, then bathe so you do not miss the farm shop. After bathing, you can also pick up handmade manju at the main-building shop, open until 19:00.
Parking → farm shop → baths → main-building shop → departure.
Bathing hours may be extended seasonally. Final admission is 18:30.
The first-floor Moe restaurant occupies a large hall that doubles as an 80-tatami free rest area. Choices include Kawane Onsen Maboroshi no Shio Ramen (¥900), Strong Tea Soba (¥1,200) and the TEA Pork Loin Steak Set Meal (¥1,650). Even without a full bath, you can follow lunch with the free footbath.
Parking → Moe restaurant → farm shop → footbath → departure.
After 14:00 on weekdays, only noodles, desserts and drinks are served. Come earlier for a set meal.
Behind the shop is a games area, and the free second-floor rest area has a manga corner with about 3,900 volumes. There are also four paid private Japanese-style rooms of eight tatami mats each with a balcony, costing ¥2,090 for two hours and ¥840 per additional hour. If bathing, note that a baby changing bed is in the women's changing room.
Parking → Moe restaurant → games and manga corners → footbath → departure.
Children of elementary school age or older cannot enter the baths with a person of another sex. Children who are not yet toilet trained may use only a baby bath in the bathing area.
The grounds include Fureai Cottages, each with a natural hot spring bath, and powered overnight vehicle sites. Each 10 m × 5 m site costs ¥3,500 per night including tax and has two 100 V outlets with a combined 1,500 W capacity. Check-in is 15:00–19:00, check-out 9:00–13:00, and the toilets are open 24 hours.
Check in at the cottage management building → bathe → eat at Moe restaurant → visit the farm shop next morning → depart.
Vehicles at the overnight sites must be no taller than 3.2 m. Open fires and drones are prohibited, and noise after 21:00 is not permitted. Reserve by calling 0547-53-4113 (9:00–17:00).
Hours may be extended seasonally. ¥820 for junior high school students and older, ¥620 for elementary school children, free for preschool children.
After 14:00 on weekdays, only noodles, desserts and drinks are served.
Kawane tea, log-grown shiitake, local vegetables and handmade manju. May close for equipment inspection or similar reasons.
Handmade manju, tea soba, tea yokan and Oigawa Railway merchandise. Open after the farm shop closes.
Free. Bring a towel to dry your feet or buy one at the neighboring shop.
Free manga corner with about 3,900 volumes. May be reserved exclusively for banquets.
Body care and foot reflexology. After 18:30, only 20-minute massages are available. Reservations: 0547-53-4808.
Large dogs cannot use it.
The hot spring water dispensing station is unavailable 6:00–13:00 on the first and third Tuesdays. Buy dedicated coins during the shops' opening hours.
Stars show the editorial recommendation for each age group on a five-point scale. Read the reasons alongside each rating.
Infant facilities and 24-hour toilets make a short break practical.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism lists infant facilities and an accessible toilet. If bathing, the baby changing bed is only in the women's changing room. For hygiene reasons, children who are not yet toilet trained may use only a baby bath in the bathing area, so a rest break and footbath may be easier to plan.
Short intervals for eating, the footbath and returning to the car work well.
Moe restaurant is in an 80-tatami hall where you can sit while waiting. The footbath is free and open 9:00–19:00. Children of elementary school age or older cannot bathe with a person of another sex, so adults may find it easier to take turns bathing.
The games and manga corners offer indoor activities on rainy days.
There is a games area behind the shop and a free manga corner with about 3,900 volumes in the second-floor rest area. These indoor options make plans less dependent on the weather.
The tracks are visible from the outdoor baths, giving children a chance to watch for trains.
The Oigawa Main Line passes beyond the outdoor baths. Steam trains are suspended long-term, but the facility says Thomas the Tank Engine trains are scheduled mainly on weekends and public holidays from May through December. Check operating dates on Oigawa Railway's official site before visiting.
The baby changing bed for bathers is only in the women's changing room.
For hygiene reasons, children who are not yet toilet trained may use only a baby bath in the bathing area.
Four paid private rooms, each with an eight-tatami Japanese-style room and balcony, cost ¥2,090 for two hours, plus ¥840 per extra hour.
Bring a towel to dry your feet or buy one at the neighboring shop.
Last orders are 16:00 on weekdays and 18:00 on weekends and public holidays. Outside food and drink may not be brought into the building.
The farm shop and Fureai Cottages are listed as open year-round, though temporary closures for equipment inspection occur.
Permanent spaces and dated events are listed separately. Events can change both the atmosphere and crowds; use the official links for details.
Checking event dates.
The official website posts seasonal hour extensions, temporary closures and events. Check there for days when bathing or restaurant hours are extended.
This salon inside the building offers body care and foot reflexology. It opens Saturday, Sunday and Monday only, 11:00–19:00, with final admission at 18:30. Courses range from 20 minutes for ¥2,100 to 80 minutes for ¥8,000. Reservations can be made by phone at 0547-53-4808 from one month ahead.
The dog run opens 10:00–16:00; large dogs cannot use it. The barbecue area is next to Fureai Cottages. A hand-rolling tea experience for one to five people costs ¥16,500 and requires a reservation.
Practical ideas and things to consider when spending time here.
Bathing, the footbath and main-building shop open 9:00–19:00 (final bath admission 18:30); the farm shop opens 9:00–16:30; Moe restaurant takes final orders at 16:00 on weekdays and 18:00 on weekends and public holidays after opening at 11:00; and the free second-floor rest area opens 9:00–17:00 on weekdays and 9:00–19:00 on weekends and public holidays. Closing times on the same site differ by two and a half hours, so shop before bathing.
The operator lists closures on the first and third Tuesdays, or the next weekday if either is a public holiday, with possible changes around New Year. It lists the roadside station shop and Fureai Cottages as open year-round. Temporary closures for equipment inspection are possible. Check the operator’s current notice before visiting.
The water is a sodium chloride spring (hypertonic, mildly alkaline, high-temperature), emerging naturally at 48.7°C and 545 liters per minute (784 metric tons per day), with 11.27 g/kg of dissolved substances. All 11 baths across the men's and women's areas use continuously flowing spring water. The hinoki cypress baths become cold-water baths from June through October; bags of charcoal are placed in the charcoal baths only during events.
The facility advises that Oigawa Railway's steam locomotive trains are currently suspended long-term, that Blue Train express services and electric trains formerly used in the Tokyo and Kansai regions pass by, and that Thomas the Tank Engine trains are scheduled mainly on weekends and public holidays from May through December. The Oigawa Main Line operates only between Kanaya and Kawaneonsen-Sasamado. Check Oigawa Railway's official site for operating and nonoperating days.
The operator's directions give about 25 minutes via Prefectural Route 64 after exiting National Route 1 Bypass at Mukoya Interchange, about 35 minutes from Shimada-Kanaya Interchange on the Shin-Tomei Expressway, and about 1 hour 10 minutes from Sagara-Makinohara Interchange on the Tomei Expressway. Approximate travel times are 1 hour 50 minutes from Nagoya and 2 hours 30 minutes from Tokyo. As of July 2026, traffic on National Route 473 between Fukuyo and Kamio alternates in a single lane; the operator directs large camper vans and buses to use Prefectural Route 64.
The farm shop carries fresh locally grown Kawane vegetables, handmade manju and Kawane tea. Its offerings change seasonally: cherry blossoms in spring, new tea in early summer, summer vegetables, shiitake in autumn and dried persimmons in winter. Kawane tea and log-grown shiitake are its featured products, and log-grown shiitake are in season in spring and autumn. There is also a hot spring water dispensing station: a dedicated coin buys 20 liters for ¥60, with a limit of 120 liters per family per day.
Opening and closure days, individual businesses and facilities for children or dogs can affect your plans.
Specialities, places to eat, sweets and bakeries can all give you a reason to stop. Check individual menus for current prices and availability.
A meal, a sweet treat, market shopping or something to take away: choose a focus for the day instead of trying everything at once.
Choices include the TEA Pork Loin Steak Set Meal (¥1,650), tuna and grated-yam set meal (¥1,600), and tempura rice bowl (¥1,130). Eat in the large 80-tatami hall.
After 14:00 on weekdays, only noodles, desserts and drinks are served. Have a set meal by lunchtime.
The ¥900 salt ramen, made with salt boiled down from Kawane Onsen spring water, is recognized as a Shimada specialty. The ¥1,200 Strong Tea Soba reflects this tea-growing area.
Check the day's menu for availability.
A small snack when you do not want a full meal. The main-building shop opens 9:00–19:00, so you can stop after bathing. Soft-serve ice cream (¥480) is a dessert at Moe restaurant, with last orders at 16:00 on weekdays.
Outside food and drink may not be brought into the building.
These are farm-shop staples. Log-grown shiitake are in season in spring and autumn; the facility highlights their aroma when picked from logs in the mountains.
The farm shop opens 9:00–16:30. For fresh produce, consider the temperature in your car on the return trip and choose it last.
Buy these longer-lasting souvenirs together and revisit your stop after you get home.
Online sales of assorted gift sets are currently suspended; plan to choose items in the shop.
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All baths use continuously flowing spring water. Pick up Kawane tea at the farm shop beside the railway.
Send your travel companions a possible stop.
