TRAIN ONSEN Travel Journals to Hot Springs in Japan

Today's Nishi-san and Kita-san are going to Shirakunoyu in Kawasaki. They are walking from Yako Station on the JR Nambu Line.

I think this road. For walking about 5 or 6 minutes from the station ...

I have come to Yako for the first time, but here is an ordinary residential area, you know. Is there really a hot spring near here?

There is. It's not a hot spring town, though.

Around here is just a housing complex, you know. We've already walked for 5 or 6 minutes, but the hot spring is ...

Oh, here we are.

So close to!

Exterior (Entrance)

The flag of Shirakunoyu, which is in front of the overgrown plant, shows that here is their destination. The entrance is behind of the parking lot covered with wood chips.

I hear this onsen has a theme of Jomon.

Jomon? From the Jomon Period? Is there something related to the Jomon Period?

Well ... I have no idea. Anyway, there's a lot of green, and it's a bit like a forest.

At first to the bathing room. The first thing you see in the bathing room is a long passage, named "Jomon Path".

Passage "Jomon Path"

Well, outside here is open-air bath, and the indoor bathtub is the back.

Right.

The bathtub is located at the end of the passage. Nishi-san and Kita-san head for the indoor bath, without commenting about the Jomon-ish rope pattern on the passage floor. The indoor tub named "The Pillar tub" has a large pillar standing.

Indoor bath "The Pillar tub"

I don't know how well, but this water has ocher? I feel calms down and smells like an old Tatami.

And, The taste is quite salty. it's sure the ancient fossil seawater.

Miso barrel tub

This big pillar is good for leaning on. But a little more diagonally would be better.

No, this pillar is not for your backrest.

Other indoor baths include a miso barrel tub, a dry sauna and a cold water bath. After entering them one by one, they go out to the open-air bath.

Open-air bath

Well, I like open-air, and this has a feeling of savory or rough edge.

In short, apparently, rocks and trees are arranged to look naturally.

I see. It's a bit difficult to walk, but I prefer like being in nature, you know.

It's amazing to make it so natural in the urban.

This makes me want to stay longer.

Nishi-san and Kita-san, who enjoyed Shirakunoyu, came out of the bath. Shirakunoyu has a break room with tatami mats and chairs. The facility offers health-friendly snacks, such as organic brown rice, based on the concept of macrobiotics.

Break room (and restaurant)

After the bath, the rice balls here are pretty good ... but beer is good too.

Well, I don't really know what macro something are, but this menu looks like it's healthy ... but beer is good too.

... After all, beer?

Right on!

That's why Nishi-san and Kita-san were just a step away from becoming healthy.

(May 2014)