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Iwaki Yumoto Onsen is an ancient hot spring that is visited by 350,000 tourists annually. Its origins date back to the Nara period. It was once called Sanbako no Onsen. At that time, it was known as one of Japan's three oldest hot springs, along with Dogo Onsen and Arima Onsen
It has attracted many tourists both in the past and now. This time, we will introduce a public bath called "Sakonoyu" that is particularly convenient for tourists to use within Iwaki Yumoto Onsen
"Sakonoyu" is convenient for tourists
The hot spring town spreads out to the northwest of Yumoto Station. 28 inns are members of the inn association. Three of them have public baths: "Kaminoyu," "Miyukinoyu," and "Sakonoyu."
Of these three, Sano no Yu is particularly popular, and is loved by tourists as a casual place to stay
"Sakonoyu" was founded in October 1995. It has a purely Japanese-style exterior, which many people take photos of because it looks great on Instagram. It is a large and impressive building, but only half of the first floor is a public bath. Unlike the outside, the inside is just like a regular public bath
The second floor is a space that explains the history of Yumoto Onsen. Numerous documents are on display. The third floor is a large hall. As its name suggests, "Sano no Yu" is a resort where you can spend the whole day relaxing
Let's go to the bathroom
To enter the bath, first buy a ticket from the ticket machine, then hand it over to the receptionist. There is a lockbox with a PIN code, so you can store your valuables there
There are two baths: "Happiness Bath (cypress bath)" and "Treasure Bath (rock bath)." The baths that men and women can use change on alternate days. Both are indoor baths
Kofuku-no-Yu has an octagonal bath and a small bath. The water in the small bath is said to be hotter. However, many people feel that it is not hot enough to be called boiling water
The source of the hot spring is 59.7°C. It is a discharge type. As soon as you enter the bath, you will be hit with the smell of sulfur. The hot spring water is clear
The appeal of Sakonoyu is its down-to-earth feel. It doesn't have an open-air bath with a beautiful view, and it doesn't have a large bath like Spa Resort Hawaiians, a major leisure spot in Iwaki Yumoto's hot springs
However, it is not extremely retro, but rather has a down-to-earth feel that is reminiscent of a typical public bathhouse, which is its greatest charm
After walking around the hot spring resort, it's also fun to relax in the atmosphere of a good old public bath. Why not try the "Sako no Yu" baths, beloved by many, as a companion on your trip?
INFORMATION
name
Iwaki Yumoto Onsen Sakonyu Public Bath
location
176-1 Sankan, Tokiwa Yumotocho, Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture
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