Hyakkannon-onsen

Travel journal of day trip bathing to hot spring

Characters

Nishi-san: He is an orthodox hot springs lover and particular about quality of springs. He loves the hot springs flowing from the source, the hot water with a presence, and the rustic atmosphere.

Kita-san: He doesn't care much about quality of hot springs. He loves the open-air bath, and prefers hot springs that have visible features such as good views.

This time, Nishi-san and Kita-san are visiting "Hyakkannon-onsen" which is one of the most popular hot springs in Saitama Prefecture. Actually, This facility is close to Nishi-san's parents' house, and it is a familiar hot spring for him from a long time ago. However, this is the first visit since the reopening in 2014. In the eyes of Nishi-san, who knows the previous situation well, how does Hyakkannon-onsen after the reopening look ...

Exterior

It's been a long time, Hyakkannon-onsen! Yes, it's such a building.

You said it was reopened. Is there anything that changed?

No ... the exterior hasn't changed ... but it must have been renovated inside. Perhaps it's changed a lot!

They entered. At the reception, go to the left and you will find the entrance to the bathing room and the restaurant opposite.

Restaurant

How? Has it something changed?

Yeah, something a bit, how should I say, it looks fancy ... I think ... this restaurant is.

Fancy? Is this? It's not much different from an ordinary school cafeteria, you know.

Yes, it's fancy, according to Saitama Standards. And before, it was more dull-looking.

Boy, that's so. Okay, okay.

But, surely, the bath should have changed beautiful! Definitely!

♨ Hyakkannon-onsen was renovated in April 2014.

The bathing room is divided into "Amidanoyu" and "Bosatsunoyu". Today's men's bath is "Amidanoyu".

Amidanoyu indoor bath

Oh yeah, it was like this. I feel nostalgic ... what? In short, that's not changed ...

Same as before?

Um, I don't think the bathtub has changed. I mean, nothing else has changed ...

They enter the bathtub for the time being.

Oh yeah, that's this water, after all, Hyakkannon-onsen is. Try to lick a bit of water.

Wow, salty!

It's a strong salt spring, and the ingredients are very thick. I guess it's powerful. This water hasn't changed.

This water hasn't changed either, you know.

Hmm ... no ... yes, the open-air bath should have been reborn as a renovation! Definitely!

Then, let's go to an open-air bath.

They go to the outdoor.

♨ In Amidanoyu and Bosatsunoyu, men's baths and women's baths change every two weeks on Saturdays.

Hyakkannon-onsen Amidanoyu open-air bath

Amidanoyu open-air bath
(Rocks bathtub)

... Huh? ...

Oh, a rocks bathtub. It's pretty good. But is there something that has changed?

It hasn't changed at all ... As well as before, the hotter water is on top, and flowing down from there.

Amidanoyu Open-air bath
(Very hot bath)

The hotter water is on top? Ah, above here ... Oops! 46.4 degrees! Too hot! I'll pass this!

Haha, you have to get more training.

Kita-san, who is not good at hotter water, goes back and forth between the rocks bathtub and carbonated bath below. Nishi-san looks down from the hotter water bath.

Amidanoyu open-air bath
(Artificial carbonated bath)

And the open-air bath area is not only this. There is a large open-air bath at the back.

Go up this stairs, and ... Oh! this is it! That's pretty good!

Amidanoyu open-air bath
(Large bathtub)

... Huh? ...

Hasn't that changed either?

Yes, it has changed, but it's smaller than before. It used to be a big bathtub, but now, what's this ... Ah, half of it has become the lying-down baths.

Amidanoyu open-air bath
(Lying-down baths)

Hmm, I don't really like lying-down baths ... You don't need to make the bathtub smaller to make it like that.

Exactly.

They get into the open-air bath.

But it's unusual to renovate and make the bath smaller, isn't it? Usually don't make it bigger?

Well, the bigger one can attract the customers. But it often requires a circulation system or adding water. Even if smaller, it would be much better to keep non-circulation and no adding water.

Is that so ...

That's what it is. Actually, Hyakkannon-onsen is the representative hot spring in Saitama. I wish it not to change forever.

You're right. And, if it changes to fancy, you will not be able to say the representative of Saitama.

... Hmm ... It's ... I admit that's a fact ...

Don't worry! It hasn't changed much since the renovation, so it won't change in the future, you know!

No, Bosatsunoyu! Yes, Bosatsunoyu has surely become fancy! ... Maybe ...

Nishi-san and Kita-san decided to come back someday relaxing in the bath at Hyakkannon-onsen, and to see how changed Bosatsunoyu.

(April 2019)

♨ 46.4 ℃ is 115.5 ℉

Impression & rating

Thick and abundant hot spring water can be enjoyed. It's a strongest one of the day-bathing onsen in Saitama Pref.

3.0 pt

Impression & rating

There are various bathtubs, and the open-air bath is large. The hot water is unique and you can easily feel the hot spring.

3.0 pt

→ How to rate

The Onsen facility

Address: 2-19-1, Nishi-Owa, Kuki City, Saitama Pref.
Phone: domestic: 0480-59-4126
international: +81-480-59-4126
Website: Hyakkannon-onsen
Bathing hours: [Weekdays]
8:00 - 23:00 [Sat.,Sun. and Holidays]
6:30 - 23:00
Close days: 3rd Tuesday
(If it's a public holiday, closed the next day.)
Charge: [In 4 hours]
Adults: ¥ 800 (¥ 850 on Sat.,Sun. and Holidays) / 3 - 12 years old: ¥ 400
(Extension charge: ¥ 100 per hour)
(Private bath charge is the above plus ¥ 4,200 per room / 3 hours)
Baths: Gender-separated indoor bath, Gender-separated open-air bath, Private bath
Facilities: There are shoes boxes and undressing room lockers. (100 yen coin required, return type)
Remarks: Tattoos are not allowed.

The hot spring data
(According to hot spring analysis report etc.)

(Field examination date: Jan. 17, 2008)

Spring quality: Sodium - Chloride spring (Hypertonic Weak alkaline High temperature spring)
Gushing place: 868-1, Oaza-Nishi-Owa, Washinomiya Town, Kita-Katsushika District, Saitama Pref.
Temperature: 57.0 ℃ (134.6 ℉)
[air temperature: 7 ℃ (44.6 ℉)]
Water volume: 1,000 L / min (Non-powered spouting after drilling)
pH value: 7.9
Total ingredients: 18.51 g / kg
Perception: Colorless, clear, strong salty, slightly mineral oily odor, babbles

Today's Detour

Washinomiya Shrine

Photo above: Approach
middle: Worship hall (back is the Main hall)
below: Kagura hall (Kagura stage)

Nowadays, Washinomiya Shrine is famous as a sacred place for "Lucky☆Star" fans or anime fans. So, common people other than nerds may think to be ordinary shrine with no features.

However, it feels full of cool energy, and it's pretty good. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious shrines in Kanto region, so it is sometimes said to be "Sacred Power Spot".

The shrine has a lot of shrine halls and there is also a stage for Kagura. (Kagura is songs and dances performed to dedicate to God.) Washinomiya Town is said to be a "Town of Kagura", and the source of Kanto Kagura, leaving an old style.

Even if you are not interested in kagura or anime, it is recommended that you visit this shrine because it has a good atmosphere. ( Washinomiya Shrine)

The descriptions on this page contain personal opinions and are not necessarily objective facts.
The information may have changed at present. In particular, the charge and price etc. has often not updated from the time of travel, so check the latest information on the official website.

TRAIN ONSEN Travel Journals to Hot Springs in Japan