Hitou Bunbuku No Yu

Cheap and simple, with a Showa nostalgia feel. A place for people who like that sort of thing.

The mineral water felt very pleasant on my skin after bathing, even though it isn't a hot spring under the Hot Springs Act. Dinner was delicious, though nothing fancy, and I paid 10,300 yen for one night with two meals. I really enjoyed the inn's rustic atmosphere. There were about three cats, but they were wary and hard to approach or photograph (lol). I became interested after seeing a YouTube video about the place. It's a rustic inn about an hour's walk from Kasama Station. The bath and dining room are in the main building, while the guest rooms are detached. The building was cluttered and not meticulously clean. It didn't bother me much, but people who like things neat or want a sophisticated inn might be disappointed. In summer, the location probably means there are a lot of insects, so bear that in mind. The tap water and baths use mineral spring water containing hydrocarbonate, chloride ions, calcium, and sodium.

The building is so dilapidated it could close for business at any time, so I won't be back. If you like unusual hot springs, though, I'd suggest going early. I visited for a day bath around 3 PM on Sunday, rang the attendant using the bell near the entrance, and paid 700 yen. They even accepted QR code payment, which surprised me. The changing room was small and had a Showa-era feel. I was the only customer, so I had the place to myself. There was a hair dryer and a locker with a lock. The bath area had one shower, a small centipede, and a single stainless steel tub. I was looking forward to trying the hydrocarbonate water, a kind of spring I'd never heard of, but it was colorless, odorless, and tasteless. I couldn't stop sweating after I got out, though, so maybe that was the spring's effect. Someone else came to take a look, saw the bath, exclaimed, "Ah!" and never returned.

I went for a day visit. Opening the entrance door, I was hit by a strange smell that made me choke, and the hallways were piled high with newspapers. The place was so dirty I couldn't bear it, and I never want to go back. The staff were very friendly, and the hot spring water was good quality, so it's a shame to see the facility go to waste.