Begin your walk at the Jōzankei Tourist Information Center before heading to Jōzankei Shrine, a peaceful Shinto site where locals pray for health and prosperity. From there, proceed to Jōzan Temple, where the main hall and treasure house preserve priceless relics connected to Mizumi Jōzan.
View his wooden statue and writings, and learn how this visionary monk brought healing waters to settlers and travelers, laying the foundation for the hot spring town we know today.
At Jōzan Gensen Park, established in 2005 to commemorate Jōzan’s 200th anniversary, encounter his statue and enjoy natural hot spring foot baths. Try boiling an egg in the steaming source water—an experience unique to Jōzankei.
Next, visit the mysterious Iwaya Kannon Hall (Iwaya Kannon-dō). This small Buddhist hall enshrines a Kannon deity, but the true wonder lies behind it. Step inside a natural cave stretching deep into the rock, where statues and offerings line the path. Enter the dimly lit cavern, feel the cool air, smell the damp stone, and experience a moment of awe as you explore this sacred underground space.
Along the way, your guide will explain why Jōzankei is not only about bathing but also about cultural continuity. Since its founding in 1866, the onsen town has grown into a retreat where visitors escape the city to find both physical relief and spiritual renewal. Its sodium-chloride springs are said to warm the body to the core, and the town itself—with ryokan, free foot baths, and riverside promenades—embodies the Japanese ideal of balancing health, leisure, and community.
