KOUGEN NO YU

Let’s get pruney, kids.

Your mother was wrong. There is absolutely nothing wrong with getting a little wrinkly in the rejuvenating waters of Kougen No Yu. Honestly, the longer you soak, the better you’ll feel so by all means, soak it up!

So for those of you who haven’t been to a traditional hot spring before, a quick breakdown. When you walk in, slip off your shoes, pop them in a locker and hold onto that key. Luckily at Kougen No Yu, most if not all of the signage is posted bilingually so you’ll be alright even if it is your first time. And whenever you’re in doubt, ask! Not only the staff but most Japanese people I have met throughout my time living here are always very willing to help someone in need, explain a bit of their culture and help visitors get through an otherwise trying situation.

Anyway, after paying the entrance fee, 1,000yen for adults and 500yen for kids, you’ll head to a locker room (separated by gender*) and get undressed. Go ahead and just take everything off. If you’re not used to public nudity, you’ll have a few moments of (WHAT IS HAPPENING?!) but honestly, everyone else is naked, too, and no offense, no one really cares about you, so you’ll get over it after a couple minutes. While you’re walking around, a lot of people carry a small face cloth with them and hold it in front of them selves very strategically when moving from bath to bath. That’s totally up to you. Just remember not to dip that towel into any of the hot springs as it’s considered uncouth and grimy. Fold it up and pop it on top of your head or throw it over a handrail before sitting down for a soak.

Bathing is pretty self-explanatory, but the number one thing to remember is to wash your body first with soap, shampoo, etc. (usually provided in the shower area) before you sit in the communal water. In many other countries, including my own, the image of a bubble bath with soapy water is the only idea of a bath we have. But in Japan, the bath is used to relax the body, not clean it. Clean yourself before getting into the water so that everyone can have a clean, clear, feel-good bathing experience without seeing your toe-cheese and shampoo suds floating by.

One special aspect of Kougen No Yu is the free mud mask that they offer for cleansing your skin. There are little buckets full of fresh gray clay that you can apply to any part of your hair or body that you like. Keep it on for about 5 minutes and then rinse it off for that fresh skin moment that’s all the rave in the face wash commercials.

Enjoy!

*A message about gendered bathing in Japan. Customers who do not feel comfortable being categorized into a gender binary still have options for bathing comfortably while on vacation. Actually, a lot of hot springs look down on customers with tattoos as well (a slowly-evolving viewpoint) so this option may be a good choice for inked bathers as well. Some hot springs and Japanese inns offer a private bathing reservation system for couples and families. This system lets everyone in the party bathe together regardless of gender, a common choice for families traveling with young children and mixed-gender couples who don’t want to sit alone in a bath in silence. The system is called 貸し切り (kashi kiri) in Japanese and it’s usually reservable in 1 or 2-hour slots for an extra charge. Be sure to ask at the desk if it’s available because Japanese hot springs are definitely something for everyone to enjoy at least once in a way that’s comfortable for each individual.

Address: 413-0232 Japan, Shizuoka Prefecture, Ito City Yawatano 1180
Website: www.suiransou.com
Phone: +81 557-54-5200