大河内温泉［いのゆ］

As I drove north from Kikugawa, watching the propellers of wind turbines, a building reminiscent of a hidden hot spring deep in the mountains came into view. This was my destination. The parking lot was small, and the building itself wasn't particularly large, but it seemed to be constantly bustling with people. I saw not only locals, but also a few cars with license plates from further afield. Once inside, you take off your shoes, pay at the reception desk, and then, especially for the men's bath, you receive a locker key from the reception desk. However, rather than having the key handed to you by the receptionist, you pick the key with your desired license plate number from a basket on the counter. Still, it's nice to be able to use the lockers for free. At Yoshi〇 Onsen, it costs 50 yen to use a locker. The changing room isn't particularly spacious, and the bath area isn't either. However, there are showers and showers, as well as two indoor baths. One is regular hot spring water, and the other is from the hot spring. The hot spring water is not overheated, so it's a little cold, but it's not as ice-cold as a sauna's cold bath, so even people who don't like cold water should be able to enjoy it. The shower in the washing area is labeled "hot spring shower," and apparently hot spring water comes out of the shower. The hot spring water is apparently good for your skin, but washing your hair in this hot spring water makes it rough. I'm not sure if this is because of the hot spring water or if the shampoo provided was bad, but if you're bothered by rough hair, it might be best not to wash your hair. It shouldn't be a problem for people with shaved heads, though. Alternating between the indoor bath and the hot spring water allows you to enjoy the combination of cold and warm temperatures, which might be nice. I finally took a shower before leaving the bath. The water wasn't particularly hot, but my body was warm by the time I got out of the bath. There seems to be a family bath, so it's probably safe for people with small children.

The spring water is alkaline and slimy. Personally, I found it slimier than Kawatana Onsen. There is a large heated and disinfected bathtub and a cold spring bath. The cold spring bath is deep, so deep that even I, a tall person, couldn't fully enjoy it. Also, the water is stored in the bathtub, so it tends to stagnate. When I used the bath, a local regular was enjoying a mini massage by placing his body under the water from the outlet, which made the water even less circulating. The temperature difference between the heated bathtub and the large bath isn't that great, so it doesn't feel like alternating between hot and cold, but by alternating between baths, you can enjoy the hot spring for a long time. The nearest bus stop is up the hill in front of the bathtub, but there are only three buses per day on weekends, so there are gaps between buses. There are no facilities nearby to kill time, so I recommend enjoying the hot spring until the last possible moment. By the way, the bus is called "Blue Line Kotsu" and is part of the Sanden Kotsu Group, but you can't get information about the approaching bus (you can get information about Sanden Kotsu), so you'll probably want to wait at the bus stop a little early.

20250329 I visited for a quick dip in the hot springs. It's been about 30 years since I last visited Okouchi Onsen. One of the two inns that used to be there is now a ruin. I'm not sure if the other one is still in business. This was my first visit to Inoyu. The hot springs are free-flowing from the source, but because the source water is cold, the baths are divided into one with only source water and another with added water and heating. The temperature of the source water bath is quite low; it's a comfortable temperature if there's a sauna, but it's cold if you get in as is. The heated bath is at a comfortable temperature. The silky smooth feeling is definitely from the source water. It's nice that the showers also use source water. Personally, this is the 4th hot spring out of 5 I've experienced that has such a silky smooth feel. The owner is unfriendly, but I wasn't expecting good customer service as I was there for the hot springs, so it didn't bother me. Also, the facilities aren't new, but they are properly cleaned and maintained on a daily basis.

Okochi Onsen Inoyu in Toyoda Town, Shimonoseki City Okochi Onsen is a renowned hot spring with a history spanning over 700 years, and has long been a popular therapeutic hot spring resort. Look for the giant windmills that mark the hot spring's landmark. Located in a quiet mountain village, it's approximately 25 minutes by car from the Ozuki Interchange on the Chugoku Expressway. Parking is also available. After enjoying the slippery alkaline spring water directly from the source, this hot spring is the perfect place for a relaxing getaway, combining it with the beautiful ocean along the San'in Line, the roadside station "Hotaru-kaido Nishinoichi," nature walks around the Itabitsu River, and firefly viewing in early summer.

The silky smooth hot spring water was amazing. I'll definitely go again. I immediately went back. The atmosphere is great, it's a fantastic place. My mother was delighted, saying her skin felt so smooth, which made me happy too. It's great that lockers, hairdryers, shampoo, and body soap are all available for free. Bathing time is around 3-4 PM. It was very crowded. If you want to enjoy it at a leisurely pace, weekdays are recommended! I was happy that my father, who was using it for the first time, also seemed to enjoy it. There's a drinking fountain. You can get 1 liter for 10 yen. It's a good idea to bring an empty plastic bottle.