夕涼み台

February 21, 2024 This bathhouse is located behind the castle. There's a restaurant called Kappo Shioyu next door, so perhaps it was originally an inn? After paying the bath fee at the front desk, I entered the wooden-floored changing room, where I was greeted by a round basket and a wooden changing box. It felt like I'd traveled back in time half a century. The bathroom features a main bathtub with a deep and shallow bath, and another bathtub at the back right. The main bathtub is hot, about 44°C. The other bathtub is a pale, translucent color. Wondering if it was a hot spring? I looked at the faucet and saw it said "salt water." I turned on the water and licked it, and it was salt water. It seems to be diluted with water and put in the bathtub. I later learned that the salt water is brought in from the Nakatsugawa River at high tide. Since it's salt water, preventing rust on the pipes must be difficult. There's also a raised wooden-floored area on the riverbank where you can take a rest. It's accessible from inside the changing room, past the restroom, so it's men-only.

♨️A public bath where you can experience the romance of the Taisho era♨️ Sairaiyu...not a hot spring, though Shioyu, with its eye-catching retro building reminiscent of the Taisho era, was founded in 1896 as Nakatsu Kaisuiyu. ☝🏻 Its salt baths, made with boiled seawater from the Suo-Nada Sea, are a rare find in this area. It has been selected as one of the top 10 public baths in Japan as a public bath heritage site.👍🏻 The exterior has a rustic, atmospheric feel. The shoe lockers and lockers in the changing room are made of wood and numbered. The old sign in the changing room is still on display. The bath area has two tubs: a salt bath (around 40°C) and a boiled water bath (42°C). Each seems large enough for three adults to bathe at the same time. The salt bath warms you up nicely. Everyone took a long soak. The regular bath was reserved for those who don't like feeling sticky after soaking in the salt bath. Shioyu has a different atmosphere than Beppu. ⭐︎Bath fee: ¥350/person ⭐︎Parking: 5 or more spaces

If you love public baths, you absolutely must go. 350 yen. 11:00-21:00. This is a very retro public bath. There are two baths. One uses water drawn from underground. The other uses seawater drawn from beside the bathhouse at high tide and heated. Even within the Showa era, it's rare to see a hot spring from such an early period. There's no shampoo or soap in the bath, and not even a hot shower (only one cold shower). There are only button-operated faucets for hot and cold water. After your bath, step out onto the balcony connected to the side of the changing room to cool off. The age of the place is evident throughout the bath and changing room. You can feel the history from the exterior. It's interesting to observe not only the bath but also the changing room. Park in the large parking lot at Nakatsu Shrine. The bathhouse is next to the exit at the back of the shrine.

Located next to Nakatsu Castle, this unusual public bath uses water made from boiled seawater. Founded in 1896, this bathhouse is quite old, and the facilities are quite dated, but it has a lovely retro atmosphere. Bathing is 400 yen. No soap or shampoo is provided. Hair dryers are only available in the men's bath (an additional 20 yen). The women's bath has something called a hair dryer chair instead of a hair dryer, but it doesn't seem very practical. There is a saltwater bath filled with boiled seawater and a regular bathtub. There is only a faucet for washing, no shower. While it is not a hot spring, it offers the same moisturizing and warming properties as a chloride spring. The building and facilities are old, so it lacks comfort, but it is a must-visit spot for public bath enthusiasts. There is parking available across the street for about 10 cars.

If you're looking to experience a truly retro atmosphere, be sure to visit Shioyu (public bathhouse). The building itself appears to have been constructed in the early Showa period. Its age and decay lend it a certain charm and romance, and the bath water, heated from seawater, is thought to have excellent antibacterial properties. I'd love to share the charms of the interior, but I'll leave that for you to enjoy! There are separate baths for men and women. There's also a rest area. I happened to find it on Google Navigation and decided to visit, and fell in love at first sight (lol). So, sometimes, I often go there on the day before my day off. The hot spring facilities are nice, but Shioyu (public bathhouse) is the perfect place to unwind and have a great time!