Bade Park Avance Fukuchi

I’ve been coming to the pool area for 30 years. The facilities are a bit dated, but they keep them up and continue operating, which I hope they can carry on doing. I’ve never stayed overnight.

I visit once a year, and this time I went on a weekday after Obon, so it was quiet. The pool and restaurant are both great. Just watch out for forgotten belongings: I spotted three water bottles on the shelf at reception, a locker key in the pool, and a jacket and hat in the changing room.

For about 1,300 yen, you can spend the day here, and you can also come just for the hot springs. It’s a health-focused place with a gym, pool, hot springs, farm-to-table shops, and accommodation. Locals apparently think of it as a children’s pool facility, but don’t expect a trendy city pool or an adult theme park. The hot spring water is free-flowing and left me warm from the inside out. The setup is simple, just an indoor and an outdoor bath, with no sauna or jet bath. Shampoo and other essentials aren’t supplied, so bring your own. I’d think of the place as somewhere to spend the day looking after your health with the gym, pool, and baths, rather than as a playground. With that expectation, I think you’ll be very satisfied.

We had a lot of fun at the pool, and as far as I know there’s nothing else like it in the prefecture. Outside, there’s a lazy river, a 25m pool, and one with a view. Indoors, we found a fountain-like area, a walking pool, a steam sauna, and more. For the indoor 25m pool, you have to wear a hat. No other equipment was needed, and photography inside the pool area wasn’t allowed.