Natural hot spring Milky Way

Nice local onsen, entrance ¥400, shampoos provided, you need to bring your own towel. Operating hours 09:00-26:00, there is parking. Entering use the shoes locker (¥100 refundable) or the shoe rack on the left (there is a sign that somebody stole some shoes recently hehe :D). Get your ticket from the vending machine and give it to the reception. Free lockers, hair dryers and cotton buds at the changing area. There are two proper western style showers and the usual shower heads with stools to wash up. There are a few different tubs, indoors you have the main tub, big size, interesting yellowish brown milky water with particles, 41.7°C. Then a bubble bath tub (small size, around 38°C) which is special, they have installed some kind of rare metal ore which is a bit radioactive, being exposed to it supposed to be healing and boost your immune system. Four jakuzzi places (around 38°C) , a medium sized sauna and a cold tub to wash off your sweat after the sauna. Finally there is an outdoor medium to large tub, made of stones with the same kind of water as the indoor main tub, 41.7°C. The main tubs water and the special bubble bath are quite strong, felt dizzy after staying long inside the water. Facilities are a bit old but well maintained and quite clean for this amount of people, visited during the weekend and was really busy. There is also a small eatery which operates in the afternoons, a rest area, small souvenirs shop and optional massage services. Definitely a good experience worth the money, recommended. Sodium chloride bicarbonate salt spring, gensen kakenagashi.

Pretty decent onsen spa facility in Oita City. Not only do they have baths, but there are massage and nail salon services in the same building (which need to be booked ahead of time), as well as a restaurant. There are both private baths for 2000 yen/hour and gender segregated public baths. The public baths have a variety of pools, both indoor and outdoor, with jacuzzis, jets, mini waterfalls, and in various temperatures. There are sauna rooms available in the public bath areas, as well as sauna cupboards(?) in the outdoor area where you can isolate yourself in the steam. The facilities seemed a bit old to me, but still all right to use. You can buy cold drinks and ice cream or soft-serve after your bath. They also sell some beauty products if you're interested in using them while at the onsen. There are also some claw machines you can try your hand at to win some big prizes. Be sure to take your shoes off as you enter the building and have cash for the ticket machine! Though shampoo, conditioner, and bath soap are provided inside, be prepared to bring in your own towel, washcloth, razor and hair comb unless you plan on buying them at the facility.

🌟 Modeled after the Milky Way, famous for the Tanabata myth where Altair and Vega are allowed to meet only once a year, the hot spring's selling point is the SGE. While you might think the mineral bubble bath made with Tenmokuseki is a popular option, the sauna is also extremely popular. 👍️ There were so many people coming and going that we decided to give up on the day. We were hoping to catch a moment when the staff were changing the mats, but it seems everyone likes to "get in the tune" 😊 👟 Shoe boxes are 100 yen returnable, lockers are 20 yen, amenities, hair dryers, and water coolers are available, and in the evening, the fragrant smell of charcoal-grilled yakitori wafts from the open-air rock bath.

Although this hot spring is located in the city, it has very good water quality, with a bicarbonate spring similar to Nagayu Onsen and deposits of sediment. However, when I went in the morning, the sauna was almost full to capacity with regulars, ladies who all seemed to know each other, and despite the big red signs saying "No talking, no reserving spots," they continued talking and reserving spots, completely ignoring them. Even when staff warned them, they would quickly return to reserving spots as soon as they left. This is extremely bad manners. At night, there seemed to be more young people, and even though there were people in the sauna, no one was talking or reserving spots.

I used the family bath. All rooms cost 2,000 yen. The room I stayed in was a spacious, clean, and relaxing 6-tatami room with an attached toilet. There were two washing areas with showers, which seemed easy for families to use. It's coin-operated, and you get coins at reception and exchange them. It lasted 60 minutes, but the bathtub filled quickly. You could adjust the temperature to your liking by adjusting the water.