十三奉行温泉

First, I entered the bathhouse, put my hand in to check if it was a cold bath or a hot spring, and an old man I didn't know washed me before I got in! I was annoyed, but I washed myself thoroughly in the shower and headed to the tub! I was asked, "Did you bring any soap?" I answered yes, and was told to wash my body with soap before getting in. It was my first time, so I didn't know. I thought it should say it on the mirror. I told him that if I had to wash before getting in, he should at least leave some soap there, and he said they sell it at the reception and I should buy some. I asked him if he was telling me not to get in, and he said he had no right to do so. I asked him why, and he said it was a moral issue. I had washed myself at home that morning, and I came to the hot springs, so I wasn't there to wash my body. He said other people wouldn't be able to tell whether I'd washed or not. I take 4-5 baths a day, but I can't wash every time. I've been touring hot springs for years, and I've never been told anything like that before. He insisted it was a moral issue. Again, I asked, "Don't go in!" and "Does that mean I should get out?" The old man said he didn't have the authority to do so. Feeling sick, I got out of the bath. There were certainly signs everywhere saying to wash your body with soap before getting in. If that's the case, surely they should provide soap or body wash? Do you get in the bath, dry your body, get dressed, and then go buy soap? Be careful, there are hot spring surveillance police, not self-restraint police! If you're going to the bath, bring soap and wash your body before you get in. I never bring soap or shampoo to hot springs, and of course I wash my private parts thoroughly and rinse my whole body, but if washing with soap before getting in is considered moral, then our skin gets dry and flaky from the multiple parts we bathe in. Of course, I'll never go back to this place with all those weird old locals. Are Kagoshima residents really all like this? If they had at least told me when I was paying the bathing fee, I wouldn't have had such a bad feeling! I guess this is an issue that goes beyond the quality of the hot water or the well-equipped facilities.

This hot spring offers hot, lukewarm, and cold baths, with spring temperatures of around 40°C, 38°C, and 22°C. The water at the outlet is about 42°C. The exquisite use of temperature is incredible. The hot water is at the ideal temperature range for activating heat shock proteins, while the lukewarm water is relaxing, close to the insensitive temperature range. The cold bath, consisting of a Goemon bath, is not too cold and is perfect for cooling down. By going through these three temperature ranges, you'll be able to fully enjoy both hot and cold baths and relaxation. This is likely to have beneficial effects on improving your immune system and regulating your autonomic nervous system. The bath changes color in two ways as the temperature changes. First, iron hydroxide precipitates as it oxidizes, turning the bath red. Then, as it degasses, calcium carbonate loses its solubility and precipitates as traces of travertine, creating a yellowish-white bath. The difference in color is striking. The spring water is a sodium bicarbonate chloride spring, with a slightly alkaline pH of 8. Notably, it contains over 3,500 ppm of bicarbonate ions, and the majority of the cations are sodium ions. The bicarbonate ion content is exceptionally high, on a par with that of Nagayu Onsen in Oita Prefecture. The spring water appears to be effective in removing sebum. Well, it's no wonder it was selected as one of Kyushu's 88 hot springs in 2024. I think this hot spring has excellent quality, both in terms of the source and the way the water is used. As for the little details, I also like the stainless steel shelf above the faucet in the washing area. 🥰

It has a distinctive reddish sulfur spring smell! It's loved by long-time locals (probably ꉂ🤣𐤔), and the surrounding area is full of charm... 350 yen per adult! When I nodded at the reception desk and asked if this was my first time, I was given a card that said "Get one free for every 10 baths!" Alternating between the Goemon-style cold water and the hot water (which didn't feel too hot to me, as I love visiting hot springs ꉂ🤣𐤔) really gave me the perfect warming effect! 💯 It must have been renovated a few years ago? It felt clean, and for 350 yen, the water quality seemed reasonable to me! Soap and shampoo were not provided. 🧼 There was also no sauna. m(_ _)m That's the impression I got from this high-quality hot spring, perfect for soothing away fatigue. ☺️ Apparently it's reserved for private use at certain times. ꉂ🤣𐤔 You can really relax! ! I often go there! ! Depending on the time of day, the baths may be private (private) in the afternoon. ꉂ🤣𐤔 This is especially useful for those who want to use both the hot and cold baths! I also use both the hot and cold baths, so a private bath is very convenient. ꉂ🤣𐤔 As with any hot spring, there are some pesky locals, especially older people, who are always complaining to the staff! I guess that's a given. ☺️ The atmosphere of a hut built in a corner of the mountains, with a hot spring welling up inside. ♨️☺️♨️ Please give it a try. 🙇♀️ I guarantee it'll be a great experience. ꉂ🤣𐤔

On my way south from Kumamoto Prefecture to the southern tip of Kagoshima Prefecture, I really wanted to take a dip in a hot spring, so I searched for a hot spring I could stop at along the way and found this small hot spring on the outskirts of Kagoshima Prefecture. I visited just after 7pm on a weekday, and while it wasn't too crowded, there were more customers than I expected. As a hot spring facility, the changing rooms and bathing areas aren't particularly large, but this hot spring is a cloudy chloride spring, a genuine spring that flows directly from the source. It's truly fresh, with no added water, heating, or circulating. I also personally appreciate the fact that they offer both hotter and lukewarm springs. And while the entrance fee seems to have gone up recently, it's still a bargain at 400 yen. However, shampoo and other items are generally not provided, so just like at a public bath, you'll need to bring your own. They do sell them, though. There was plenty of parking space. The hot spring looks old, but I didn't have any particular concerns about hygiene and I found it comfortable and relaxing.

This hot spring is located in Noda, Izumi City. It features a nostalgic Goemon bath (cold bath). The water is slightly cloudy and is divided into a lukewarm bath, a hot bath, and a Goemon bath. There are solidified water crystals displayed at the entrance, which shows that the spring quality is very good. I visited in the summer, so the hot bath was too hot for me. All I could do was soak my feet. Alternating between the lukewarm bath and the Goemon bath's cold water bath is very refreshing.