日帰り温泉 坂本の湯

I previously visited the neighboring Biwa no Yu, but this time, I went to Sakamoto no Yu at the end of the year. Biwa no Yu, like many other former inns, appears to be a day-trip hot spring facility. Sakamoto no Yu is hard to find, with no sign or other signs, and its appearance is reminiscent of an old-fashioned luxury inn. There were three other guests there, and the moment I saw the bath, I immediately thought, "It's so small!" There are four washbasins, the bathtub is wooden, and the hot spring water is slippery and slippery. It's really small, with only enough room for about four or five adults to stretch their legs out. The hot spring water is around 40-41°C, and it flows directly from the source, without any heating or water being added, which is unusual. I think it's from the same source, but I felt that the water quality at the neighboring Biwa no Yu left my skin smoother after the bath. The bathing fee was 650 yen, and the bath and changing room were small. There were six dining chairs in the lobby in front of the front desk, but there was no heating, the room was cold, and there was no place to relax. Since it was originally a ryokan, it would have been nice to have at least a tatami-floored rest area. The spring quality was good, but everything else was disappointing.

I went there on a weekday lunchtime. We had the bath to ourselves. The water is free-flowing, colorless, and transparent, making it a very beautiful hot spring. The facilities are also very clean and pleasant. The water thermometer read 37°C, but it felt a little warmer to me. Maybe because it was the height of summer? Taking advantage of having the bath to ourselves, I was able to relax in the bath while hydrating. I heard the lively voices of children on my way in, and wondered if they were grandchildren playing, but there were loads of kids playing in front of the reception desk. lol I see, they were kids from the nursery school, so cute. The parking lot across the street looks like it could fit about seven cars. The hot water outlet is very cool. You'll want to bring your own shampoo and other supplies. Also, be sure to bring some water with you. I was so happy to have found this wonderful hot spring. I highly recommend it!

I stop by every time I return to Nagano, and I think I've bathed here about 20 times. Initially, I used to go to the day-use hot spring facility next door, but ever since discovering this place, Sakamoto no Yu has become my go-to hot spring in Asama Onsen. The biggest attraction here is the completely free-flowing (no heating or added water) hot spring water. The colorless, transparent water has a faint sulfurous smell and a subtle presence of mineral deposits, which is characteristic of this hot spring and truly wonderful. The building, both inside and out, is neat and tidy and could easily pass as a traditional inn, but it's already being used for other purposes. I hope both continue for a long time to come. I noticed during my recent visit that they've started offering morning baths and breakfast on weekends only. I'd definitely like to enjoy that on my next visit.

I went there twice, before and after climbing Mt. Hachibuse. The first time was so good, I returned after the climb. The water is rich with alkaline, and apparently it flows directly from the source, without any additional heating, water addition, circulation, or filtration. They don't provide shampoo, so you have to bring your own, or if you don't have any, they'll lend you a rinse-in shampoo for free. The price of 650 yen is also reasonable these days. The bath is small, with only enough space for 5-6 people and four showers, but we had plenty of time to reserve it on both days. Apparently it used to be run as a ryokan, but now it's a day-trip hot spring. Parking is easy, so I highly recommend it.

I visited around 2:30 PM on a Thursday. There was a private parking lot, and I was a little confused when I parked my car. The entrance was like a traditional Japanese restaurant. When I went inside, there were a lot of small children there, and I rang the bell at the counter to pay. 650 yen was a great price! The water is a free-flowing, alkaline simple spring. The quality of the spring water was very good. There was a slight sulfur smell, but it wasn't too noticeable. They didn't provide any shampoo or body soap, but the water was good and very relaxing.