大島鉱泉

This hot spring gushes forth beside the Joshin'etsu Expressway in Tomioka City. Follow the signs for "Oshima Onsen" and you'll see the building at the end of the road. The unpaved parking lot can accommodate more than 10 cars. The building in front is the entrance to the hot spring, where the friendly owner will come out. There's a shoe rack to the left of the entrance where you can store your shoes. The hot spring opens at 1:00 PM, and when we arrived at that time, we were greeted by a friendly waiter. After paying the bathing fee of 450 yen in cash, we took a quick tour of the reception and building. The place was crammed with retro Showa-era accessories, ornaments, and frames. We passed through an unusual noren curtain, which had the men's and women's baths written on it, to the changing room. Inside, we found a simple facility: an old-fashioned massage machine, bench, mirror, free hair dryer, laundry basket, and scale. There are four washing areas, two on each side of the bathroom. There's no shower, just push-button faucets for hot and cold water, powered by well water. Soap and rinse-in shampoo are provided at the washing area. The bathtub is tiled in a retro Showa-era style. It's an indoor bath only, heated with firewood. The water is not circulated, so it's essentially a free-flowing bath, but hot water is added when it's boiled. The water temperature is about 42°C. As it gets warmer, they heat it up, but it's still hot! It seems to be around 44°C, so stir it in a washbasin to cool it down before getting in. The bath is a little slimy. I'm not sure if it's because of the spring quality or the way it's cleaned, but it's not a very pleasant feeling... The mural is so beautiful that you won't even notice it: "Shiraito Falls and Mt. Fuji." It's not large, but it's a beautiful mural. Apparently there's a different mural in the women's bath as well. This is not recommended for those who are particular about cleanliness, but it is recommended for hot spring enthusiasts and those who like retro atmospheres.

Oshima Onsen, Joshu Ichinomiya When I saw a smoking chimney in the middle of nowhere, beyond the scattered houses, I was thrilled and thought, "Thank goodness it's open!" It's a union-affiliated facility, so it's 450 yen. There are no lockers in the changing room, only baskets. The bath has four faucets and a four-person tub. However, shampoo, conditioner, and soap are provided. 😃 There are usually 3-4 people there, and the women's bath is staffed by a pair of young hot spring enthusiasts. "How's the temperature?" the owner asks from the boiler side. "It's just right," I think it's about 42°C. Even though I didn't stay long, I couldn't stop sweating after my bath. 💦 After my bath, I spoke with the owner, who told me he's the third generation owner, having been in business since the Taisho era. They stopped offering overnight stays since the coronavirus outbreak. On the mountain in front of us, there's a bonfire lit with a character burn. There's also an unattended Kannon statue on the mountain behind, making it a sacred temple. "I wonder if there's a demand for it in a place like this?" The effectiveness of the product has been well-received, and there are repeat customers, and apparently elderly people who find cleaning the bath a pain come every day. Even though the husband is quite old. Thank you very much.

As a member of Gunma Prefecture's public bath association, the rates are regulated, making this the prefecture's only hot spring public bath. The source spring is a 14.5°C mineral spring, apparently heated with firewood. The water has a slightly yellowish hue and a faint fragrance. Despite its pH of 9, the water isn't thick enough to stick to your skin. The water outlet is apparently adjusted by turning the faucet to find the right temperature, but the source spring is quite hot, so you'll need to keep the water flowing at a moderate rate or the water will get too hot (lol). The bathroom's bathtub is about the size of three tatami mats. The faucet has four separate push-button faucets for hot and cold water. The only amenities are soap and shampoo. It's close to Nukisaki Shrine and easily accessible to Oshima Onsen. However, the building is designed like a retro, rustic hot spring inn, giving you the feeling of a hidden hot spring resort. Price: ¥450 Capacity: Approximately 10 cars Spring Quality: ★★★★☆ Price: ★★★☆☆ Service: ★★★☆☆ Facilities: ★★☆☆☆

We were a couple with two elementary school children and a toddler. Since it was still daytime and there were no other customers, the owner kindly allowed us to have the bath all to ourselves. We have three boys, and I rarely get to bathe with the two oldest at home anymore, so it was nice to bathe together and chat about silly things for the first time in a while. It's incredibly full of Showa-era atmosphere! It feels like the Showa era has been preserved! They've stopped offering overnight stays due to COVID-19. I wish I could have stayed at a place like this when I was a child. The men's bath has an old-fashioned massage chair that you can enjoy for 10 yen. The drinks under the veranda after the bath also have a charming, old-fashioned feel.

After going there frequently, my atopic dermatitis and hay fever symptoms were significantly reduced, perhaps because it suited my body. I think it's the hot water that has the desired effect. It's not exactly a sparkling public bath, but considering that the water is heated by the owner, who is over 80 years old, I realize that I'm grateful that they're still running the place. It's a place I hope will continue to be around forever.