Takeo Onsen Motoyu — Japan's Oldest Public Bath

Motoyu, the central public bath of Takeo Onsen, occupies a building constructed in 1915 in the style of a Noh stage — a red-lacquered wooden gate (built in 1788, registered as an Important Cultural Property) frames the approach. The bath itself has an unbroken operating history from at least the 8th century; the alkaline waters were reportedly enjoyed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi during his Korean campaigns. The interior contains a rotenburo (outdoor bath) of unusual design: the water emerges directly from the ground into a granite basin.