One of the most famous hot springs in Japan
opened by Kobo Daishi deep in Kii Province

Ryujin Hot Spring was opened by Kobo Daishi Kukai about 1,300 years ago, according to a prophecy by Nandariro (the Dragon King). In the Edo period (1603-1867), Yorinobu, the first feudal lord of the Kishu Tokugawa family, one of the three Tokugawa families, was so fond of Ryujin Onsen that he protected it using domain funds. Yorinobu, who was a man of letters and military prowess and was called “Lord Nanryu,” was also known as a hot spring lover, and built a bathhouse at Ryujin Onsen. He not only had it reconstructed around the year of the boar, but also built a recreation center, which is still in operation today as “Kamigoden” and “Shimogoden. Yorinobu also relocated residents of neighboring villages to operate Ryujin Onsen as a hot spring resort, and exempted them from paying land tax in perpetuity. These actions reveal Yorinobu’s strong feelings toward the area. The hot water of Ryujin Hot Spring, which is rich in sodium bicarbonate and radium, is said to be one of the three most beautiful hot springs in Japan, along with Kawanaka Hot Spring in Gunma and Yunokawa Hot Spring in Shimane, for its skin beautifying effects. The road taken by successive feudal lords from Yorinobu onward from Wakayama Castle to Ryujin Onsen is called “Ryujin Kaido” and leads to Ryujin Onsen via Nichizen Shrine, Itakiso Shrine, Nogami Hachiman Shrine, Shimizu, and Jogamori Mountain. Follow the road and let your mind wander back to the Kishu Tokugawa family who visited the onsen for a hot-spring cure more than a hundred years ago.

Ryujin Onsen is a hidden, historical hot spring settlement situated in the mountainous heart of the Kii-Hanto Peninsula along the upper reaches of the Hidaka-gawa River, famous for its beautifying mineral waters.

It is located at the southern entrance of the Ryujin-Koya Skyline highway that links Koyasan and the Kumano area and is a perfect place to stop and relax between these two sacred sites. The Skyline offers wonderful panoramic views of the forested peaks, layer upon layer into the horizon.

Ryujin’s high-quality hot spring waters are clear with a high quantity of sodium bicarbonate and are considered to be the best in Japan.

The smooth and silky waters are well known for making skin beautiful and are one of Japan’s three famous Bijin-no-yu or “Beautiful Women Hot Spring”.

弘法大師が紀伊国の奥深くに開いた日本屈指の名湯

約1300年前、弘法大師空海が難陀龍王（なんだりゅうおう）のお告げによって開いたという龍神温泉。江戸時代には、徳川御三家のひとつ、紀州徳川家の初代藩主頼宣が龍神温泉をいたく気に入り、藩費を用いて保護したと伝えられています。文武に長け、「南龍公」と呼ばれた頼宣は温泉好きとしても知られ、龍神温泉に浴室を設置。それを亥の年周りに改築させただけでなく保養所も建設し、その保養所は現在も「上御殿」「下御殿」として運営されています。また、頼宣は龍神温泉を温泉地として運営するため、近隣の村の住民を移住させ、永代に地租を免除。これらの行いから、頼宣の同地に対する思い入れの強さがうかがい知れます。ちなみにナトリウム炭酸水素塩泉でラジウムを豊富に含む龍神温泉の湯は美肌効果が高く、群馬の「川中温泉」、島根の「湯の川温泉」と並んで「日本三美人の湯」といわれています。頼宣以降、歴代藩主が和歌山城から龍神温泉に通った道は「龍神街道」と呼ばれ、日前宮、伊太祁曽神社、野上八幡宮、清水、城ヶ森山を超えて龍神温泉に至ります。その道をたどり、百数十年前、湯治に訪れた紀州徳川家の人々に心を重ねてみてはいかがでしょう。

龍神温泉は、紀伊半島の山間部、美人の湯として名高い日高川上流に位置する歴史ある秘湯だ。

高野山と熊野地方を結ぶ龍神高野スカイラインの南入口に位置し、2つの聖地の間に立ち寄り、くつろぐには絶好の場所である。スカイラインからは、森林に覆われた峰々が地平線まで幾重にも連なる素晴らしいパノラマを眺めることができる。

龍神温泉の泉質は、ナトリウム炭酸水素塩泉で透明度が高く、日本一と称されている。

つるつるすべすべの美肌の湯として知られ、日本三美人の湯のひとつに数えられている。