Saitama Seiganji-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.

Nishi-san and Kita-san have come to Seiganji-onsen near Omiya today. It is at 3 pm on weekdays, so it seems that not so crowded.

Exterior

Oh, this is Seiganji-onsen. Bamboo is planted, so I knew immediately.

The bamboo forest seems to be famous here.

It feels good to have a lot of greenery in a Japanese-style building, you know.

The building still looks new.

Restaurant

Slowly walking down the corridor while watching the courtyard, there is a bathing room just past the restaurant. First, Nishi-san and Kita-san decided to try the indoor bath.

Indoor bath

Phew, isn't it nice?

Hmmm, a bit of chlorine odor bothers me ...

Hey! This cypress tub is a high concentration carbonated spring.

What? ... oh, I see. That's artificial carbonation.

It has a whirlpool and a sauna too, and bathtub variations are rich, you know.

That would be nice for families and so on.

After taking a cypress bathtub, they finally went to an open-air bath.

Open-air bath

Oh, as I've heard, it's a great bamboo forest.

I see, bamboo makes you feel refreshed.

After all, bamboo is so good for Japanese.

Oh ... Yeah ...

For the time being, Nishi-san is heading to "Rocks tub". He is really interested in "Raw-Source Bath", but it was almost full of customers. After him, Kita-san also got into "Rocks tub".

♨ Seiganji-onsen has opened in 2006.

Rocks tub

Yeah, not bad. It's so good.

The temperature is just right, and I feel better than expected in an open-air bath with a view of the bamboo forest.

Oh? ... Ah, in short, the water is overflowing from the "Hot-Source Bath", and it's flowing into here.

Do you mean the water is reused?

♨ The temperature of each bathtub in the open-air bath is:
Raw-Source Bath (without heating): 37.5 ℃ (99.5 ℉)
Rocks tub, Pot tub, Lying-down bath: 41 ℃ (105.8 ℉)
Hot-Source Bath: 43 ℃ (109.4 ℉)

Well, I guess you could say that. But from a different perspective, you could say they care the water. Of course, if you have plenty of spring water, don't have to reuse it.

I see. It's like a conveyor belt sushi.

Oh ... Yeah ...

Hot-Source Bath

Then, let's get into Hot-Source Bath at the upper stream.

Kita-san get into Hot-Source Bath.

Kita-san, are you not good at Hot one?

Hmm ... Surely, it's a bit hot ... ... Well, now, I would prefer Rocks tub.

If all the customers are like you, the Hot-Source will not get dirty at all. Then, it might be reasonable to make these bathtubs.

Pot tub

In addition, there are Pot tub, Lying-down bath, etc. The two entered them one by one. Then, they went into "Raw-Source Bath".

Oh, it's lukewarm. It's OK now, but I'll feel cold in winter.

It's a very good water. Better than expected. It has a bit of fine babbles, too.

I can't help taking a long time bathing here, you know. Look, some people are completely sleeping.

While Nishi-san and Kita-san were relaxing at "Raw-Source Bath", the open-air began to light in response to an impatient autumn evening. The bamboo forest is illuminated, creating a different atmosphere than during the day.

Open-air bath at night

The bamboo forest at night is pretty good, too. I feel quiet.

I saw the Illumination of bamboo forest for the first time, but it's a solemn atmosphere.

But anyway, it's better to devise lighting. Like a expressing "Smart" by blue light, or "Elegant" by purple light.

It's just a imitation.

In this way, Nishi-san and Kita-san enjoyed plenty of Seiganji-onsen on a calm autumn day.

(October 2013)

♨ All bathtubs in the open-air bath are not used circulating system.

Impression & rating

The water in the open-air bath is flowing from the source. It has fine babbles and better than I thought. I have an impression they treat the water carefully.

2.5 pt

Impression & rating

More than expected, it has a great healing effect that the open-air bath with a view of the bamboo forest. You can relax and take a long time bathing if not crowded.

4.0 pt

→ How to rate

The Onsen facility

Address: 683-4, Oaza-Seiganji, Nishi Ward, Saitama City, Saitama Pref.
Phone: domestic: 048-625-7373
international: +81-48-625-7373
Website: Seiganji-onsen
Bathing hours: [Weekdays]
10:00 - 25:00(Last entry at 24:30) (Opened at 9:00 on Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays)
Business days: Open everyday (closed several days a year for equipment inspection)
Charge: Adults: ¥ 720 (¥ 820 on Sat.,Sun. and Holidays) /
3 - 12 years old: ¥ 370 (¥ 420 on Sat.,Sun. and Holidays) /
Under 3 years old: Free of charge (However, children with diapers cannot take a bath)
Baths: Gender-separated indoor bath, Gender-separated open-air bath
Facilities: There are undressing room lockers. (100 yen coin required, return type)
Remarks: Children who are not with adults cannot enter. Tattoos are not allowed.

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

(Field examination date: Oct. 5, 2011)

Spring quality: Sodium - Chloride spring (Hypotonic Weak alkaline Hot spring)
Gushing place: 683-4, Oaza-Seiganji, Nishi Ward, Saitama City, Saitama Pref.
Temperature: 38.3 ℃ (100.9 ℉)
[air temperature: 9 ℃ (48.2 ℉)]
Water volume: ? L / min (Pumping)
(According to a hot spring analysis report on July 14, 1999, 480 L / min)
Drilling depth: 1,500 m (4,921 ft)
pH value: 7.9
Total ingredients: 4.109 g / kg
Perception: (According to a hot spring analysis report on July 14, 1999, slight yellow turbidity, salty and irony, almost odorless)

Today's Ekiben

Omiya Bento

(Purchased at Omiya Sta.)

"Omiya Bento" is sold only at Omiya Station. Side dishes are inspired by Saitama. The roasted, boiled and fried foods are colorful, carefully seasoned, and quite delicious. The price is a bit high but it's a satisfying Ekiben. (¥ 1,200)

(Currently, it seems that Matsunoya, an Ekiben maker in Utsunomiya, has renewed and been selling.)

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.

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