Eiheiji Onsen ZEN no Sato

I visited around 11:30 AM on a weekday after visiting Eiheiji Temple. It's a separate building on the same grounds as the roadside station. It's not very large, so I imagine the parking lot gets crowded on weekends. There's a footbath in front of the hot spring facility, which anyone can use. There's a reception desk right inside the facility. You buy a ticket from the vending machine next to it, and when you hand it over along with your shoe locker key, you get a key to the changing room. The men's bath (on the right) has plenty of washing areas, no problem. The indoor bath has both hot spring water and regular hot water, each accommodating about 8 people. The outdoor bath is also hot spring water, but it can only fit about 4 people at most. The water is hot and has a slightly yellowish-brown color. There's also a sauna! Although it only fits about 3 people. When I visited, it was lunchtime on a weekday, so I was the only one there for a while, and I was able to fully enjoy the sauna and the fresh air. There's also a restaurant where you can take a break. Eiheiji Temple ⏩️ Hot Spring ⏩️ Dinosaur Museum was a pretty good route.

It's a little small, so admission is restricted when it's crowded. The water is light, and there are two indoor baths labeled "Hot Water" and "Onsen." There is one small open-air bath and two chairs for resting. There is a sauna, but the cold bath can feel like a packed train with two adults, so consideration is needed. Many people try to stay in the bath for a long time, so if you are taken to the hospital by ambulance, you may be banned from entering the bath again, so please consider your physical condition before bathing. There is a snack corner inside, which is convenient for after your bath. There are few lockers, so it's a good idea to return your locker key when you go to the snack corner or to take a break after your bath. The staff are friendly and helpful, so even first-time visitors will feel comfortable using the bath.

I visited during the Obon holiday period. It was evening, and the woman at the reception desk informed me that it was crowded. It was indeed crowded, but since I had been warned beforehand, it wasn't a problem. There was no wait for the washing area, and the changing room was rather small. After my bath, there was a snack corner where I had grated radish soba and a pork cutlet rice bowl. I didn't have high expectations, but it was surprisingly delicious. It's worth it for 850 yen. There was a sign in the restroom warning about bears. Those stopping by in their cars should be careful.

I had the mini katsudon and grated radish soba set. It was delicious, but... the price has gone up drastically from ¥920 to ¥1120 to ¥1280, so I can no longer afford to eat there without the Eiheiji town support vouchers.

About a 10-minute walk from Sanno Station on the Echizen Railway. I visited to look for Pokefuta (Pokémon manholes). The limited-edition Ninky Senbei crackers (480 yen) at Zen no Sato Roadside Station were delicious.