Jun 16, 2012 - 1 min read

Fountainhead of Nikko Yumoto Onsen

Under the Protection of Onsen-ji Temple for 1200 years

By Tomoko Kamishima

Community writer

Stone lanterns line the temple's approach.

The whole area is beautiful and mysterious.

Onsen-ji Temple's Healing Buddha statue.

Latticed sliding glass door of the temple building.

These little wooden huts house the fountainhead.

The fountainhead water is rich in sulphur.

The temple and onsen buildings are very simple.

Wooden path leading to the fountainhead.

Yumoto Onsen Hotels near the fountainhead.

It is said that Priest Shodo who discovered most of the inner Nikko area also discovered a fountainhead in Yumoto in 788. He set up a Healing Buddha statue here and named the hot spring “Yakushi-to (hot water from Healing Buddha). During the Edo period the hot spring was managed by Rin-no-ji Temple and only those who got permission from the administrator could use the bath. Standing on the grounds of this fountainhead, we can feel the solemn air and power of the earth at the same time.

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By Tomoko Kamishima

Community writer

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Mark Buckton 12 years ago

I think the popular story told at shrines and temples all over Japan of the discovery of a water source is usually termed 'spring' as 'fountainhead' does seem a word describing a constructed facility.

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