Kanaya Station

The day-use hot spring is open until 5 PM, and we were asked to enter around 4:45 PM, so we went in at 4 PM. There were only two of us there, so it was a small bath that could only fit three people, but we were able to relax for 30 minutes and chatted about our cherry blossom hike up Mount Nokogiri. With the current boom in day-use hot springs, some customers might be disappointed by the size, and depending on the number of people, it might not even be possible to get in. However, if you accept that it's a place for traditional hikers, then it's about what you'd expect. Mount Nokogiri is a more challenging mountain than I expected, so I worked up quite a sweat. It was refreshing, and since it was a natural hot spring, it was pretty good overall.

On my way back from visiting Mount Nokogiri, I stopped by a hot spring. I think it used to be a ryokan (Japanese inn), but it seems to have been renovated three years ago into a tourist information center with an attached hot spring. 😸 It cost 1000 yen for rental face towels and bath towels, plus access to the drink bar. This was my first time at this hot spring, and the water wasn't too hot; the temperature was just right. I love hot springs, so I often look at the analysis report, and because it's a cold mineral spring, they mix in warm water before putting it in the bath. Personally, I was curious about the water dilution ratio – how much warm water was mixed in? 😺

Since my cycling trip at BBBASE ended at Hamakanaya Station, I decided to wash off the sweat in a hot spring before boarding the train. The hot spring alone cost 800 yen, and shampoo, conditioner, and body wash were provided. Towel rental was 200 yen. The water was warm enough for a long, relaxing soak. It felt like a renovated old house that used to be a guesthouse. The interior was very comfortable, with a cafe-like atmosphere. It's conveniently located near the station, with a convenience store next door. If I had to suggest an improvement, a bicycle rack would be a nice addition.

Apparently they have a foot bath and can take reservations for accommodation, but this time I just dropped in for tea. There were plenty of tourist brochures on display, and the atmosphere was bright and calm, making it very relaxing. I ordered a cappuccino, which was delicious. They also had a few souvenirs, and I ended up buying a cutely designed local T-shirt. The exterior looks new from the road side, but from the parking lot side you can see traces of the building before it was renovated in March 2017. It had a vintage feel that you wouldn't imagine from the front.

I used the luggage storage and cafe. Luggage storage is available until 4:30 PM for 500 yen per bag. At the cafe, they offer limited-time sweet orange sodas for 450 yen. The sodas are made to order, so they took a while to make. But they're incredibly delicious, with a natural sweetness from the pulp. For 450 yen, it's a great deal. I was also given a complimentary cookie. It also had a simple, comforting flavor. The store isn't large, but the wooden pillars and interior design create a calming atmosphere. The staff were polite and I had a very pleasant time.