Tōgō Onsen Kotobuki Yu

I parked my car at Matsuzaki Station on the San'in Main Line. It was a little after 12:30 PM on Saturday, July 12, 2025. The area in front of the station still shows remnants of the old Togo Onsen hot spring resort. From here, it's less than a 3-minute walk to "Shimizu Barbershop." After paying the fee there and navigating a narrow alley, I found myself in a public bathhouse from the 1950s. The water gushing from the tap was 46℃. Hot. However, having spent the last few days soaking in the original hot spring bath in Yunotsu, I could easily get in. It was about the same temperature as the lukewarm water at the original bath. The bathtub was deep, and I could comfortably immerse myself up to my chin. I kept getting in and out. There was absolutely no sign of anyone else coming. This feeling of liberation from having the bath all to myself further uplifted my spirits. It was fantastic. Since there was absolutely no sign of anyone else coming, it was hard to leave. While drying myself off and cooling down in the changing room, I jumped back into the bathtub one more time. I enjoyed being alone for over an hour. This place is amazing. I thanked the caretaker and headed to the station. The station platform is the perfect place to cool down after a bath. I bought a juice in the waiting room and went to the platform. I sat on a bench on the empty platform and just zoned out. The pleasant breeze and birdsong. And the wooden station building. This place is straight out of the Showa era. A place where you can completely immerse yourself in nostalgia, with no one around. I've decided to visit again next year, along with Torikai Ryokan.

I finally made it to Kotobuki-yu, a place I've been wanting to visit. Shimizu Barbershop was locked, so I went through the alley and headed directly to the hot spring. Entering the narrow alley felt like stepping back in time. The rustic atmosphere was wonderful. Inside, there was a glass container in a space resembling a reception desk; I put 300 yen in it and went to the changing room. It was very well-maintained and clean. I put my clothes in a basket and headed to the bath. The bathtub seemed to have been recently renovated; it was made of beautiful light blue concrete. Weakly radioactive spring - sodium chloride sulfate spring The hot spring water flows directly from the source, with water pouring in from the tap. It's very hot. The bottom of the tub is hot, but the temperature is slightly lower there. The water is mild and gentle, though still hot. After a few minutes, I started to get used to it (or rather, I broke down). It seems that even the locals spend more time outside the bath than in it. There's no soap or shampoo, so bring your own. It's hot, but very refreshing. Cooled down with a fan for a while. It was a great bath. It's in the middle of town, but it feels like a hidden hot spring. It's a public bathhouse, but it's a natural hot spring with free-flowing water. So glad I came! I hope this hot spring continues for a long time.

It's right in front of the station, but it feels like a hidden hot spring. Needless to say, the Togo Onsen public bath is located at the end of a very narrow corridor. It's usually unmanned, and while you can ring a call bell and someone from the hair salon that manages it will come to you, it's probably easier to stop by Shimizu Barber Shop and pay your bill there first. Now, the corridor is, as expected, extremely narrow. It's impossible to pass each other; even cats probably hesitate to pass each other (lol). On the other side is the bathhouse, whose construction is a mystery. The bathtub is a single blue one, with a step inside for feet and sitting. The hot spring water is constantly being added, so it's usually hot, so it's best to turn the faucet on full blast and fill it to a low temperature before bathing. The water has a slight salty taste, is clear, and warms the skin nicely. Of course, soap and shampoo aren't provided, so bring your own. The bathing fee is 300 yen for adults (middle school students and older) and 150 yen for children (elementary school students and younger). There is a list of old Tottori Prefecture public baths on the wall, which is a must-see; this place used to be registered as a public bath.

I visited Togo Onsen Kotobukiyu. After paying the 200 yen bathing fee at Shimizu Barber Shop, the owner kindly guided me through a narrow alley. "If it's too hot, fill the bath with water and get in," he said. Just as the owner said, the bath was hot and tingly. I filled it with water and somehow managed to get in. After a while, a local person came and put his hand in the water to check the temperature, and if it was warm enough, he turned the water faucet all the way on, so I couldn't stay in the water and had to leave. Even after I got out, my body was still warm and sweating for a while. It was a cheap, local, and good hot spring that I would like to come back if I have the chance. Thank you

The quality of the spring water was simply amazing. The water was hot, but I felt refreshed after a bath, my skin was moisturized, and it wasn't dry at all even without applying lotion. My body was warm, and even though it was the end of November, I wore short sleeves the whole way home in the car. When I took a shower at home the next morning, my skin was dry and flaky, as usual... It was the first time I'd ever experienced a hot spring like this. I'm jealous of my neighbors who can enjoy such a wonderful hot spring for just 300 yen. I hope it continues forever.