Aba Hot Spring

This hot spring facility is located near the prefectural border between Okayama and Tottori. I tried visiting at 11 AM when it opened. As a public hot spring facility, the admission fee was inexpensive, at 520 yen for adults as of February 2023. There are indoor and outdoor baths, and a sauna is also available. It also seems that you can use the pool for the same price. After paying at the ticket machine at the entrance and taking the ticket to reception, you will be given a locker key for the changing room. The changing room is lockable, so you can enjoy your bath in peace without worrying about theft. The hot spring is heated and circulated, so there is a slight disinfectant smell, but both the bathroom and bathtub are well-maintained and I was able to use it comfortably. Since it was opening time, there were not many people there, so I was able to enjoy the hot spring at my own pace. There is a large parking lot shared with nearby public accommodation and dining facilities, so it is convenient to visit by car. Although there are very few buses, it seems that the city-run Awa Bus runs from JR Mimasaka-Kawai Station. It was a warm, sunny day in late February, but there was still snow around, so if you're planning to visit in winter, please drive carefully.

Awa is reached after crossing Kamo from Tsuyama City. It reopened in the spring of 2025. The indoor baths are either rock or cypress baths, and the open-air rock bath. There is a sauna and a cold bath. The indoor and outdoor baths are one and the same. The water is slippery, which is rare in Okayama, and leaves your skin feeling smooth. Shampoo, conditioner, and body soap are always provided, so you can enjoy the hot springs with peace of mind. The changing rooms are equipped with hair dryers only, no lotion or other products. The lounge has been enlarged since the reopening. There are manga, Othello, and other games available, making it fun for small children. There is no restaurant on site.

I visited again after a six-month renovation project. Until the end of September last year, bathing cost 520 yen, but it has been revised to 550 yen for Tsuyama residents. That's understandable, but for people from outside the prefecture like me, it's 800 yen (there are special discounts for seniors and residents). Even considering the rising cost of living, that's a huge price increase! I was shocked! The newly established community lounge is perfect for relaxing and lying down after your bath. Also, the bookshelves have manga for women, including "Detective Conan" and "One Piece," as well as children's picture books, so you can relax and forget about time.

The lockers in the changing room are small, but considering the number of people using the facility, it's not too inconvenient. The bathroom, washing area, and bathtub were also not crowded, so they were a pleasant space. The open-air bath was also very pleasant. The spring water is alkaline, I think. When I soaked in the water, my skin felt slippery, smooth, and silky, and I experienced the very high quality of the water. After bathing, there was a large rest area where I could relax on the spacious floor, read manga, play table games, sit in a hammock, or use a folding bed. I was able to rest well.

Although it was a weekday afternoon, there were a steady stream of customers. The water is lukewarm, coming from a spring at 31°C. It feels slimy on the skin, leaving you feeling moisturized after a bath. There's also an open-air bath where you can relax. The bath will be temporarily closed from September 2024 to March 2025 due to major renovations. So I'm looking forward to seeing what the facilities will be like after the renovations. Located deep in the mountains, it feels like a hidden hot spring, and I highly recommend it. Sales of the hot spring were suspended due to a lack of water.