I tried drinking the worst-tasting hot spring in Japan.

If there's a place that calls itself the "worst-tasting hot spring in Japan,"
I just have to try it...

In June 2026, I visited Tsukioka Onsen using the Otona no Kyujitsu Club Pass.

You can find my previous article here.

It takes about 50 minutes by bus from Niigata Station to
arrive at Tsukioka Onsen.

Wine, rice crackers, sake...
Even though each shop sells different things,
there was a sense of unity in their signs and logos.
I felt that they cherish the entire hot spring town as a single brand.

Heading to the Moonlit Garden.

It must be even more beautiful when the lights come on at night.

The colorful pillars were reflected on the water's surface.

"Why don't we come back at night?"

"No way!" my mother replied.

That was exactly what I expected...

I headed to the "Gensen no Mori" drinking fountain at Tsukioka Onsen.
Apparently, they advertise themselves as the "worst-tasting hot spring in Japan."

Now, for the taste...

I poured a little into a cup and took a sip.

"Bitter!"

I couldn't help but grimace.
One sip was enough.

But apparently, this bitterness is proof that it is packed with sulfur and minerals.
Thanks to those components, it is known as a "hot spring for beautiful skin."

"How is it?"

"...It's bitter."

My mother also took a sip and immediately put the cup down.

We looked at each other and burst out laughing.

Finally, we went to the foot bath.

It was under construction when I visited, but it was still open for business.

Perhaps because of the construction,
there were only two tubs available.

In the larger one, a woman was sitting and reading a book.
It was hot! It was the first time I'd ever experienced a foot bath this hot.

I thought to myself, how can that woman stay in there...

I moved to the other, narrower, smaller tub.

The temperature was slightly easier to handle
than the first tub I entered.

The water was a faint green color, and if you looked closely,
there was something like oil floating on it...

"Hey, there's oil floating on it!"

"Oh, really? Maybe it's because of the construction?"
my mother said.

I learned later that
the oil is a remnant of past oil drilling,
a natural component, and not a sign of it being dirty.

The oil floating on the surface coats the skin,
providing a high moisturizing effect.
This is also one of the benefits of the "hot spring for beautiful skin."

After drinking the bitter hot spring water, we finished by warming our bodies in the foot bath.
That kind of conclusion was a very typical way to enjoy Tsukioka Onsen.

By the time we left the foot bath,
it was just time for check-in.

We headed to our accommodation for the day,
Tsukioka Onsen Mashu.