Sugo Onsen Seizanso

I enjoyed YUDA Milk drinkable yogurt and premium yogurt with breakfast. The spring is a radium hot spring. The only other radium hot spring I know is in Toyotomi Town, Hokkaido.

Sugou Onsen has almost colorless water with an unusual oily smell and a slippery feel. It was around 41.5°C, which felt comfortable, while the open-air bath was a little lukewarm. The oily scent stayed on me afterward, but unlike sulfur springs, it had nearly disappeared within half a day. The bath itself was nice. I’d been curious about Seizansou whenever I passed by, and finally stopped in before noon. The front desk to the left of the entrance was empty at first, but the proprietress came from the back and checked me in for 500 yen per person. The bathhouse is upstairs at the back on the left. There’s no toilet in the changing room, so go beforehand. Free lockers for valuables are just before the bathhouse. The changing area is small, though that didn’t bother me since I had it to myself. It has a hairdryer, and there was also a fan and air conditioning, though they weren’t needed this time of year. The bathing area has five faucets and amenities.

I really like that oily smell in the air. It reminds me of gasoline, especially exhaust from old two-stroke mini-trucks, a smell I’ve always loved. The water was a slightly greenish, milky white, and the spring is sulfate-chloride. The bathroom was small but had both indoor and outdoor baths. Oogi, another nearby inn in Sugou Onsen, is listed as having a sulfur spring. I wonder if the water quality can vary within Sugou Onsen itself. It’s a mystery.

A friendly lady runs the place. The spring water has the oily smell typical of Sugo Onsen, though it still feels light and refreshing.