Hotel New Nishino

We spent time in the men’s bathhouse and sauna in the afternoon and again in the evening. It’s smaller than the big sauna complexes we’ve tried in Kansai, but felt cosier and more intimate. The Finnish sauna’s Aufguss show, held every two or three hours, was a highlight. The twin room was comfortable, the staff were excellent, and the breakfast was tasty, filling, and good value. The hotel is right in Tenmonkan, Kagoshima’s shopping and entertainment district. I’d book breakfast with the room.

The onsen was good.

It’s a great place for sauna fans, with the feel of a traditional public bathhouse, plus dry and steam saunas. The staff were polite and impeccable. I thought the dry sauna could be a bit hotter, though. The steam room smelled strongly of wood, and once the steam comes out you can’t see what’s in front of you, so watch your step. The price was very cheap, so maybe it was the room grade, but the room felt old and had a slight smell. I didn’t know the area, but the hotel is right downtown. If you don’t like heavy drinkers, be aware that there were loud shouts outside all night. I’m not a fan of that. I wanted to go to a restaurant after the sauna.

The hotel is conveniently close to the downtown area, and the staff are warm, kind, and polite. It’s a long-established place, and the sauna is free to use. Noise is the downside: depending on the time and situation, drunk people outside can be loud until late, making it hard to sleep. I hope soundproof window glass will improve that.