Azalea Chiyoda

That public bath was surprisingly spacious and quite nice. I’d worried it would be a hassle to use it because the room had no private bathroom. I was traveling alone, and the room had four beds, which made me feel a little guilty.

The large communal bath seemed to be where villagers came to relax, so as a guest I felt a bit out of place. The accommodation was inexpensive, though, which was a relief.

It’s a compact place that seems handy for local seniors and anyone looking for an affordable stay. The public bath is about eight tatami mats, while the sauna fits around four people and the cold bath is only about one tatami mat. It’s similar to the large baths at business hotels, so it could feel pricey if you came only for the hot springs. They offer daytime bathing as well as overnight stays, and there’s free parking. Admission is ¥500 for adults and ¥300 for children. PayPay, Rakuten Pay and other payment options are accepted, and you can also pay at a convenience store.

I like that the sauna is included for 500 yen. There’s one square cold bath, really for one person, though maybe two could squeeze in, and nowhere to sit and rest after using the sauna. The main indoor bath is moderately warm, around 38 degrees. From the entrance, the sauna is at the back on the right and holds only three people. I’d guess it’s about 80 degrees, but there’s no clock. Even after ten minutes it doesn’t feel too hard to stay in, so people linger and the line doesn’t move much. Since guests use it, getting a turn in the sauna is a matter of luck. The day spa runs from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, except Tuesdays, when it opens at 1:00 PM and closes at 9:00 PM.