Kokuboekimae-onsen Kenko House

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.

(→ Continuation from Kokubo-onsen)
After Kokubo-onsen, Nishi-san and Kita-san have headed to Kokuboekimae-onsen, a 2-minute walk from Kokubo Station. The two walk straight from Kokubo Station, then they have arrived.

Exterior

As the name says in front of the station, it's really close.

But, as you can see, I think it's an outdated building and a run-down atmosphere ... Besides, it's name is "Kenko House", you know. Naming of "Kenko House" is rare these days ...

I'm sure everyone will be healthy by this hot spring. There is no problem as long as the hot water is good.

Anyway, to the undressing room. The undressing room is lined with lockers, and it is spacious and beautiful. And finally to the bathing room.

Bathing room

Wow! It's water on the whole floor.

It's overflowing hot water. It's quite luxurious.

The inside is a bit outdated too, but bigger than I thought.

Kokuboekimae-onsen Kenko house Relaxing Bath / Ultrasonic Bath

Relaxing bath (back)
Ultrasonic bath (front)

The main tub here is three tubs arranged along the wall. The left is a relaxing bath, the center is an ultrasonic bath, and the right is a jacuzzi. There is a small room with a frosted glass, and a cold bath and sauna, too. First, they take an ultrasonic bath.

They're pouring a lot of water. It's fresh and a bit slimy.

The water is greenish, you know. Kokubo-onsen was brownish though. It is so close, but different.

Jacuzzi

Next, they enter the relaxing bath where the source is poured vigorously, and the jacuzzi popular with locals. Nishi-san likes the relaxing bath where water is fresh. Kita-san's favorite is the jacuzzi, which has a lukewarm water.

After all, the relaxing bath is the best for the freshness of the water. It's different because of the strength of the hot water from the spout.

But it's a bit hot. This jacuzzi is the best as temperature.

After going back and forth between the three main tubs, they try to get into a small room where the inside is not clearly visible with frosted glass. Nishi-san and Kita-san opened the frosted glass door.

Radon bath

Radon bath.

Is radon radioactive radon? Is it good for your health?

In short, radioactive springs are said to be a hot water that is effective against all diseases. So they seem to create it artificially. I guess they made it because this is the Kenko House.

Kenko House ... it's fishy, though ... Anyway, let's get in it ... Oh! Hot! It's a little hot!

♨ "Ekimae" means "in front of the station". Even if you say "in front of the station", it does not mean that you can see it as soon as you leave the station. Rather, it is not visible at all until just before arrival.

Well, yeah, it's a bit hot.

I'm not sick for now, so radon bath is no need.

Washing area

So Nishi-san and Kita-san left the small room of the radon bath soon.

The whole building is getting worn out, but the hot water is good.

Could be. But I wish it had an open-air bath, that was close. And it's better to change the name to something more cool.

You change "Kokuboekimae-onsen Kenko House" to cool name? How?

"Kokubo Station Spa Kenko House".

Oh, you don't change the "Kenko House" ... You really like that part ...

In that way, Nishi-san and Kita-san enjoyed the hot water of Kokuboekimae-onsen Kenko House for about an hour.

(April 2015)

♨ The temperature of each bathtub (estimated) is:
radon bath is 45℃ (113℉),
relaxing bath is 44℃ (111.2℉),
ultrasonic bath is 42℃ (107.6℉),
jacuzzi is 40℃ (104℉).

Impression & rating

The onsen water has been lavishly flowing. Hot water that has a high freshness and a refreshing feeling after bathing.

3.0 pt

Impression & rating

There is a feeling of run-down, but it is good that it's big and has various bathtubs with different water temperatures.

1.5 pt

→ How to rate

The Onsen facility

Kokuboekimae-onsen Kenko house

Address: 251, Saijo, Showa Town, Nakakoma District, Yamanashi Pref.
Phone: domestic: 055-275-7132
international: +81-55-275-7132
Web Site: None
Bathing hours: 10:00 - 24:00
Regular holiday: Open everyday
Charge: [3 hours]
Adults: ¥ 570 / Elementary school students: ¥ 310
[1 day]
Adults: ¥ 1,000 / Elementary school students: ¥ 500
Baths: Gender-separated indoor bath

Sakurayu

The following is about "Sakurayu" after reopening on June 7, 2017.

Address: 251, Saijo, Showa Town, Nakakoma District, Yamanashi Pref.
Phone: domestic: 055-268-3088
international: +81-55-268-3088
Web Site: Sakurayu
Bathing hours: 10:00 - 23:30
(Last entry at 23:00)
Regular holiday: Open everyday
Charge: Adults: ¥ 500 / 4 years old - Elementary school students: ¥ 300 / 3 years old and under: free
Baths: Gender-separated indoor bath, Gender-separated open-air bath

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

(Survey date: Jul. 30, 2013)

Spring quality: Simple hot spring (Hypotonic Neutral High temperature spring
Source: 251, Saijo, Showa Town, Nakakoma District, Yamanashi Pref.
Temperature: 43.7 ℃ (110.7 ℉)
[air temperature: 29 ℃ (84.2 ℉)]
Volume: 168.2 L / min (Pumping)
pH value: 7.4
Total ingredients: 0.8031 g / kg
Perception: Light yellow clear, tasteless and odorless

Sakurayu

The following is about "Sakurayu" after reopening on June 7, 2017.

(Survey date: Mar. 15, 2017)

Spring quality: Simple hot spring (Hypotonic Weak alkaline High temperature spring
Source: 251, Saijo, Showa Town, Nakakoma District, Yamanashi Pref.
Temperature: 43.6 ℃ (110.5 ℉)
[air temperature: 11.8 ℃ (53.2 ℉)]
Volume: 199 L / min (Non-powered spouting after drilling)
pH value: 7.9
Total ingredients: 0.850 g / kg
Perception: Pale yellow tasteless odorless

Today's Detour

Itsumi-an, Anko Kobo (sweet red bean paste maker)

Itsumi-an is a direct sales shop attached to the Anko production section of Itsumiya. "Kamaage Anko" which sell homemade fresh anko by weight, "Ohagi" and "Kimihime Daifuku" are popular. It is about 8 minutes on foot from Kokuboekimae-onsen. (→ Itsumi-an _ Facebook)

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