Miyakonojo Hot Spring

Personally, I felt that the water here is "super refreshing and great to bathe in in the summer." I arrived in mid-January, cycling 15 minutes from the station in the cold. The cost is 500 yen for adults. I was told that there was no soap or shampoo provided, so I purchased body soap for 200 yen. The indoor bath is a sweet and slippery hot spring, with a cloudy texture that is like warm Kirishima's famous water. I thought there would be an open-air bath, but the outdoor villa is a mist sauna. It's not too hot, so you can sweat comfortably. The three points below bothered me. If they say "wash your body with soap before entering" even though there is no soap provided, wouldn't it be reasonable to provide a thin body soap or soap? Also, there is a sign in the Aeon (mist) sauna room that says "approximately 10 minutes," but there is no clock installed... There were also more warning signs than I expected, and although I've been to many bathhouses in the past, it's rare to see such a prominently displayed "No tattoos allowed!" sign. It just goes to show how much this bathhouse is loved by all sorts of locals. But considering how wonderful the water is (the bathkeeper's boast that the water is on par with Ryujin Onsen, Kawanoyu Onsen, and Kawanaka Onsen is not entirely wrong), such things are trivial. I should have brought a water bottle with me.

The water quality was excellent and the hot spring was very clean. There was a regular sauna and a steam sauna, both of which were spacious and great. The cold bath was also large. The best thing about it was that the area for outdoor bathing was spacious, with the steam sauna bathroom next to it. I cooled my body down in the outdoor bath after heating up in the steam sauna, and did this over and over again. Since it was winter, the cool outdoor air of Miyakonojo was very pleasant. I warmed my body up in the hot bath at the end. I was still warm and sweating a while after leaving the hot spring. I went on a Sunday morning, so there weren't many people there.

After a road bike ride and some mountain climbing, I worked my muscles hard and then went for a bath. Normally, after such intense exertion, I'd end up with muscle soreness that lasts for 3-4 days, but perhaps due to the effects of the hot springs here, I didn't experience any muscle pain at all. 🤩 One thing to note is that you must bring your own body soap, shampoo, etc. Also, please note that cashless payment is not accepted.

This hot spring has a slimy texture that is highly recommended as a beauty bath. The water is thick and envelops the skin, and it's surprisingly warming. There is also a steam bath and a large cold water bath. The water is drinkable, so you can stay in it forever. Shampoo and other items are not provided, so you must bring your own. I never thought that there would be such a great hot spring in Miyazaki other than Ebino.

Don't be fooled by the age of the building! The water is good and free-flowing! There are plenty of cold baths! The sauna and steam bath are nicely set up♫ It's also great that there is a shower so you can wash off the sweat right after you get out! The outdoor bathing space is perfect, and the sound of the trains passing by is also great♫ Best of all, you can start bathing from 5am! I'll definitely come again!