Kiku

■Date I went on Saturday, February 1, 2025. I arrived at 1:15 PM. ■Access The website states it's a 13-minute walk from Kofu Station. I was touring public baths, so I got there by bicycle. I checked the location on a map, but got a little lost. It's right on the narrow road. ■Crowdiness Only three men were in the hot spring. When I left, there were only about three people there. The lockers are big enough to fit a backpack. The changing room is spacious. The Showa-era retro interior makes you feel like you've traveled back in time. It's famous for being a popular visitor to Dazai Osamu. ■Hot Springs/Price Calcium-sodium sulfate hot spring / 430 yen ・Water temperature: 28.4°C ・Flow rate: 148 liters ・pH: 7.9 This calcium-sodium sulfate spring has the soothing effects of calcium, making it effective for cuts. The sodium helps keep you warm. It's a hot spring that's good for your skin. There's a gourd-shaped bathtub in the middle of the bathroom, and a heated free-flowing bath and a cold bath at the back. The source water temperature is low, so heating is necessary. The gourd-shaped bath has jets. The hot spring water has no distinctive scent or color, and it feels pleasant on the skin. It's heated, but I think it's just under 40°C. It's not particularly hot, but it warms the body. The gentle spring water makes it nice to soak in for a long time. There's a sauna at the back. The temperature is 75°C, and it has a window. It was cloudy, but I thought it was unusual to have a sauna with sunlight coming in. ■Amenities Shampoo and body soap: Not provided (fee required) Hair dryer: 70 yen for men (each) Lotion, etc.: Not provided Other: Amenities are available for purchase from the receptionist. ■Overall Step inside and you're immersed in a retro Showa-era world. The lockers are made of wood, giving it a charming feel. While immersed in the historical atmosphere, it might not be the best place to expect luxurious amenities. There are signs with important rules to follow, so please be sure to follow them. Since this is a historic bathhouse, I felt like I needed to be more responsible when bathing.

A historic hot spring bathhouse. It was frequented by Osamu Dazai during his newlywed days. Free parking for about 10 cars is available. The water quality is undeniably excellent, with three bathtubs, a chlorine-free cold bath, and a low-temperature sauna at around 75 degrees Celsius. For 1000 yen per day, you can relax in the large hall. It's directly connected to the changing room, making it very convenient. The changing room is lined with old advertising signs from local shops, creating a spectacular sight. The fact that the best-spotted sign belonged to a local kimono shop adds to the sense of history. It rivals other famous old bathhouses in other areas. It has many local regulars, and if you don't mind that, I recommend it to hot spring bathhouse enthusiasts. Bottled milk and bottled cola are also available.

There was a notice to wash your body with soap before getting into the bath, which I thought was a good thing as recently more and more people are neglecting this basic thing. It was a midsummer day, so the cool, free-flowing hot spring water felt great. However, when I got out of the bath and returned to the changing room, the attendant had been replaced by a middle-aged man, rather than a middle-aged woman. The women's changing room was completely visible from the attendant's counter. I was shocked when I made eye contact with the man while I was completely naked, and felt really uncomfortable. I wonder if this doesn't violate Article 1, Section 23 of the Minor Offenses Act.

Visited March 8, 2026 Apparently, this is a public bath frequented by Dazai Osamu. At 2:00 PM, there were two other customers in the men's bath. After putting your shoes in your slippers and taking the wooden tag, the door locks. Entering through the noren (curtain) door to the men's bath, you'll find a traditional reception counter. I paid ¥470 and headed straight for the changing room. The changing room also locks. The hot spring water is heated, and the heated water is a little warm for me. There is a dry sauna, but as the sign indicates, it can only accommodate three people. There are two parking lots🅿️, one for the first bath and one for the second bath.

The entrance fee is 470 yen. This is a historic public bathhouse, so much so that Osamu Dazai once frequented it. The baths are spaced far apart, giving the impression of spaciousness. The snowman-shaped (I can't quite describe it) bath has both shallow and deep sections, both of which are quite hot. There is also a cold bath and heated spring water. There is a sauna, but it requires an additional fee. A relaxation space on the second floor is available for a fee. It opens at 10am in the morning. There is a parking lot, but the space is small, and it may be difficult to park a large car. Information as of June 2025