いわい温泉

I was alone in the women's bath when a cleaning man opened the window and peeked in. I instinctively raised my voice and said, "Please don't look," but he continued to peek for a while. I immediately got out, and the staff at the hot spring explained what had happened. They said they were checking to see if anyone was inside, but isn't it normal for a woman to do that in the women's bath? The man apologized, but honestly, I didn't want to see his face again. The woman working at the hot spring didn't seem particularly apologetic and her response was purely businesslike. It used to be one of my favorite places – clean and relaxing – but I don't want to go back. Please seriously consider how hurtful it is to have your vulnerable naked body peeked at. I usually don't leave reviews no matter how bad the service is, but this was an issue I couldn't overlook, so I decided to write about it here so others can see.

This hot spring is fed directly from the source. It seems to be a hot spring facility of the neighboring Iwai Onsen Sakura. There's no attendant, and all you have to do is buy a bathing ticket and put it in a box, which is simple and nice (lol). It seems to have been renovated and feels brand new, but the retro feel is truly Hitoyoshi Onsen. The hot spring is fed directly from the source, so you need to be careful, as it's hot at 49°C. However, the electric bath in the old-fashioned bathtub is a plus. As a fan of electric baths, this was the perfect hot spring for me. It was too hot to stay in for long, but I recommend it for those who want to relax in a secluded hot spring. 😊

There are no problems with the hot springs. There is a normal parking space in front of the entrance for two cars, and you can always park motorcycles and bicycles, but local residents park beyond the property when they go back and forth for daily life, which is a nuisance when passing other cars. People like this... Are they not worrying about whether they are overhanging the property or causing a nuisance? They probably don't care! Also, there are quite a few shops that don't check this either.

The entrance fee is 300 yen. Purchase your ticket from the vending machine and place it in the ticket holder. There is an indoor bath and an open-air bath, and the temperature was around 42-43℃. The water is gentle and pleasant. Soap, towels, etc. can be purchased from vending machines. Lockers only accept 10 yen coins. They are located right in front of the parking lot. Information as of April 2024.

When traveling to the countryside, it's one thing to stay at a high-class inn like Ayu no Sato, but it's also fun to go to a place frequented by locals. Iwai Onsen is a perfect example of this, and its kind message of washing away stress is wonderful. And yet the bathing fee is only 300 yen. I hope it continues to be a public bath loved by locals. ✨