Kiyotake Onsen

The hot spring water is really good quality, and the accommodation is very cheap.

This place feels spacious, with a design that takes me back to the Showa era. The hot spring water is alkaline and is known as a beauty bath. It's a good choice if you want to unwind in nature, though I wouldn't recommend it to anyone used to business hotel facilities. There is no Wi-Fi, and the building is quite rundown.

The baths were mostly empty, so it could be a nice place to soak for a long time. Bathing starts at 5 pm and costs 500 yen. I heard the water comes straight from the source, though I couldn't find a chart showing its effects. The bathroom jacuzzi is switched off to save energy. Shampoo is the combined shampoo-and-conditioner kind, and the soap is a bar.

I liked being able to relax here in a private setting. The inn itself has a strong Showa-era feel. For day visitors, the baths are open all year from 5 pm to 9 pm. Parking is available for 150 cars. Admission is ¥500 for adults, ¥300 for elementary school students, and ¥200 for infants. Pay at reception, then pick either an available locker, which costs ¥100 and is non-refundable, or a changing basket. There are 10 lockers and 50 baskets, plus four sinks and two hair dryers that cost ¥100 for 10 minutes. Soap is available in the changing room. The washing area has six unpartitioned spots, with soap and shampoo with rinse. Body soap is not provided. The main indoor bath is L-shaped and about 5m by 5m, with a reclining section for two. There is also a seated bath for three and a cold bath about 3m by 2.5m. The seated bath felt as cold as a cold mineral spring. A jacuzzi seemed to be fitted, but it wasn't working. The open-air bath was closed. The water was clear and colorless, with no taste or smell, and felt slightly slippery. It was a little hot. I couldn't find a hot spring analysis report. There are a few sofas in the lobby, but day visitors apparently can't use the dining area. There is no Wi-Fi. (February 6, 2020)