Yabu Onsen Tajimarakuza

There’s a pleasant atmosphere and the price was reasonable, though the facilities feel old, like a Showa-era inn. It was hard to find, and the smoking room beside the elevator sent a strong cigarette smell into the hallway and beyond. That might work for smokers, but it bothered me. The hot spring public bath is downstairs in the basement. There's no open-air bath. The room had one face towel and one bath towel, which were the only towels provided. If you plan to bathe in the evening and again in the morning, bring what you'll need, perhaps your own bath set.

For 600 yen, the day-use hot springs were a nice low-cost option, especially since a nearby facility was closed and I was glad to find this one. The setup is simple, just showers, a sauna, and the hot spring, but that's enough for a day visit. There’s a restaurant on site, and the spacious lot means parking shouldn't be a worry. A handy place if you're nearby and want an easy soak.

The room was a good size, and although the building isn't new, our family of four stayed without any problems. The staff were mostly cheerful and gave very good service. There isn't a bath in the room, so the public bath was our only option, but the water temperature was quite good. The attached convenience store has only a limited selection of everyday items, so it's not really useful for shopping.

The water runs lukewarm, but the place has plenty of room to unwind, which I really liked. The facilities are old, as you'd expect, though they seemed well cared for. There are a few discounts available, and using them can make the stay even cheaper. I think it’s better to enjoy the old-fashioned feel than worry about it.