TRAIN ONSEN Travel Journals to Hot Springs in Japan

One day in September, when the lingering summer heat doesn't seems to decline. To avoid the summer heat in Tokyo, Nishi-san and Kita-san have come to Chino City, Nagano Prefecture. Then now, the two are heading for "Togariishinoyu". They get off at Hiromi Bus Stop and are walking down the paved road where the dazzling sunlight is reflected, toward Yatsugatake.

Oops, it's hot ... I thought it would be cool here.

Exactly, this temperature is not different from Tokyo.

Are we still walking a lot?

No, it's already around here ... Oh, right at that sign.

Turn right to the gravel road at the signboard of "JOMON-U-TRA". Trees growing on both sides of the road make a good shade.

I feel relieved with this shaded road. It's a bit cool.

After all, it's very different just not being in direct sunlight.

Oh, the way down here?

Signboard

... no, no! Turn right at here. There's an information board.

Oh! It's hard to find! How did you find out it? The letters are terrible too.

No, not terrible, it's unique ... maybe.

If you follow the road on the right, you will find a dead end, a building on the left and a parking lot on the right.

Parking lot side entrance of the reception building

This is ... here. There is no other building. Is this the entrance?

I think so.

Anyone is there? Don't tell me it's a day off today ...

Fortunately, it's not a day off. The open-air bath that Nishi-san and Kita-san are aiming for is located further back in the parking lot.

Little path to the open-air bath

It's just a trail.

I think they have the intention trying to avoid artificial things as much as possible. The Jomon period is the theme, isn't it?

I see. I'm getting a little more interesting.

I'm excited about what's ahead of this trail.

After walking for some time, they saw a wall made of reeds and a banner that would indicate the entrance to the bathing room. It looks like a women's bath in the foreground and a men's bath in the back.

Women's bath on the left, men's bath on the back

Well, on one hand it's natural-friendly, but on the other hand it's rat-trap, you know.

At any rate, the theme is the Jomon period.

Passing through the banner, there is an undressing room like an arbor. Of course, there are no civilized tools such as coin lockers. And, an open-air bath with green cloudy water appeares in front of the forest.

Open-air bath

Wow, that's great!

This is exactly the taste of the open-air bath created in the old days of Jomon.

Speaking of which, every bath in the Jomon period was like this.

... Have you ever seen it?

After kakeyu (hot water for washing off before bathing), the two get into the bath immediately.

Kakeyu (hot water for washing off before bathing)

Oh, it's not so hot. I feel good this temperature in summer ... Oh! It's dangerous!

What? What happened?

Slipped. It was about to fall. The bottom of this bathtub is slimy, you know.

Right. Exactly, this must slip and fall if you're not careful.

Don't they clean? Is this because of Jomon too?

I can't say. But this water is greenish. Does it have a lot of iron? It's a fresh feeling and it's pretty good.

Speaking of fresh, the air here. Indeed, that's surrounded by woods, so much oxygen, you know.

Well, I feel like that. ... Oh, the water at the spout has a bit of like sulfur odor. And ... Yeah, the taste is iron or mineral-like.

The undressing room seen from the open-air bath

And this spout will be a waterfall shower too.

Ah, you can do that.

In a cool breeze that blows through the forest, the lukewarm water is perfect for a long bath.

Hot water spout

But it's so quiet ... Just the sound of water and the noise of trees ...

This sense of free is rare. Around the bathtub has no fences, directly a forest.

Oh! Deer!

What!? Where!?

Between those trees. For a moment, though.

Is it really a deer?

Not a size of dog, and I think that silhouette is probably a deer ...

Well, in this forest, no wonder there are deers.

Kita-san feels lucky being able to see a deer for a moment. After the deer leaves, the forest has returned to just the sound of water and the noise of trees, as if nothing had happened.

Break room (in Tateshina Executive House)

(September 2018)