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ETIQUETTE

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ETIQUETTE

Tokko no Yu in Shuzenji: Kobo Daishi's Sacred Spring and the Tragedy of Minamoto Yoriie

The Tokko no Yu hot spring in Shuzenji is said to have been discovered by Kobo Daishi (Kukai) in 807 when he struck the riverbed with his vajra scepter. This sacred spring — the oldest in Izu — flows at the heart of Shuzenji Onsen, the same town where the second shogun Minamoto Yoriie was confined and assassinated. A complete one-day guide to Shuzenji's sacred and historical sites.

Contents

MOKUJI

Tokko no Yu: Kobo Daishi's Sacred Spring

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Minamoto Yoriie and the Kamakura Power Struggle

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One-Day Itinerary

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Best Seasons

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FAQ

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Shuzenji Onsen in the heart of the Izu Peninsula holds two extraordinary layers of history in a single riverside landscape.

Tokko no Yu: Kobo Daishi’s Sacred Spring

Tokko no Yu is Izu’s oldest hot spring, said to have been created in 807 when monk Kukai struck the Katsura riverbed with his vajra scepter, causing warm water to gush forth out of compassion for a child using cold water to care for a sick parent. Today the stone-rimmed spring is a viewing and foot-bath spot only — no bathing allowed. The sight of steam rising from the cobblestones at dawn is one of Shuzenji’s most atmospheric moments.

Minamoto Yoriie and the Kamakura Power Struggle

In 1204, the second shogun Minamoto Yoriie was confined here by Hojo Tokimasa’s machinations and subsequently assassinated at age 23. His tomb lies within Shuzenji Temple’s precincts. This event marked the shift from Minamoto-led to Hojo regency rule.

One-Day Itinerary

Take the Izu-Hakone Railway to Shuzenji Station (about 40–50 minutes from Mishima), then the bus to Shuzenji Onsen (10 minutes). Visit Tokko no Yu at 8:00 AM, then Shuzenji Temple, stroll the onsen street, lunch at a local inn, and afternoon bathing.

Best Seasons

Mid–late November: Brilliant autumn foliage along the Katsura River; evening illuminations at Shuzenji Momiji Forest. April–May: Fresh green season, quieter crowds.

FAQ

Can I bathe in Tokko no Yu? No — viewing and foot baths only. Use the ryokan or day-trip facilities in town. How do I get there? Tokyo → Mishima (Shinkansen) → Shuzenji Station (Izu-Hakone Railway, ~35 min) → Shuzenji Onsen bus stop (~10 min).

Last updated: May 22, 2026

Katsura River in Shuzenji Onsen — Tokko no Yu springs at the riverbank, the oldest hot spring in Izu

Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Kenchoji — the great Zen monastery built during the era of Yoriie's captivity

Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu — the political heart of the Kamakura shogunate where Yoriie held sway as shogun

Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain

Shuzenji in autumn — the brilliant red maples reflected in the Katsura River in late November

Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Engakuji — the Kamakura Zen temple built during the era that saw Yoriie confined in Shuzenji

Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain

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