Chuo Ward - 中央区
Aioi-yu
Aioi-yu
Japanese Name: 相生湯Address: 兵庫県神戸市中央区再度筋町7-2Access: Bus #7 from Hankyu, Hanshin or JR Sannomiya or JR Kobe Type: SentoPrice: Hyogo Prefecture Public Bathhouse Association price or cheaper (sauna, if available, may be extra)Holiday: SaturdayHours: 15:00-22:00ReviewI went here a long time ago. I wanted to go to Minatoyama Onsen, but it was closed. Remembering that I had seen this sento from the No. 7 bus on the way, I walked back to it. Aioi-Yu is small. Very small. That didn't bother me, however. Although there wasn't much as far as baths, the character of the place made up for it. After getting out, I chatted with the grandfatherly owner as I drank one of the retro bottled sodas that sento only seem to sell.
Update December 2019: Accessible from a small alleyway heading off the major road that parallels the mountains that contain downtown Kobe city. It is best to get here by taking the #7 bus up the hill. This is a small little sento with only three baths. The shallow and deep baths are terraced while a small jet bath has a few lemons in it to make it a bit different. It's a small place but it has a big heart. If you happen to be in the area I would recommend heading to this fun little neighborhood bath.
Update December 2019: Accessible from a small alleyway heading off the major road that parallels the mountains that contain downtown Kobe city. It is best to get here by taking the #7 bus up the hill. This is a small little sento with only three baths. The shallow and deep baths are terraced while a small jet bath has a few lemons in it to make it a bit different. It's a small place but it has a big heart. If you happen to be in the area I would recommend heading to this fun little neighborhood bath.
Kobe Kua House
Kobe Kua House
Japanese Name: 神戸クアハウスPrefecture: HyogoCity: Kobe - ChuoAddress: 兵庫県神戸市中央区二宮町３丁目１０−１５Access: 10 min walk from Hankyu, Hanshin or JR Sannomiya Type: Hot Spring FacilityWebpage: http://www.kobe-kua-house.com/Price: ¥920Holiday: NoneHours: 24hrReviewIn the states you can still find diners from the 50’s and 60’s with the cool retro architecture and feel, in Japan you can find places like Kobe Kua House. The facade on the 8 story tall building is worth the short walk from Sannomiya alone.In front of Kua House there are coin operated taps and vending machines that sell the great tasting “Kobe Water” that they bottle there on the spot and fill some of the baths with. According to their webpage Kua House had Japans first cold water bath. In the hot days of summer, that cold spring water bath is as refreshing as swimming in a mountain stream.Besides the cold “Kobe Water” well, Kua House has 2 other hot springs. A sodium bicarbonate well (重曹泉) and a boric acid well (硼酸). Both are unique and you can easily tell the difference between the three natural springs that Kua House has access too. Because of this unique situation, Kua House is a good chance to explore how different spring waters can feel.There's a unique bathing manner here also. The tub baths have wooden boards on top of them for resting your arms on. It says you sold sit in the bath, with your arms out of the water for some sort of therapeutic effect. It seems however that the wooden boards have been taken away since the last time I went here in the summer of 2012.As mentioned about above, Kua House is a retro thanks to age. Thankfully the entire building has been remodeled recently and some of the wear and tear of years of use has been removed. A rooftop rotenburo has also been built. The hallways and directions from the front desk to the changing room to the capsule hotel to the baths are a bit confusing. There is no straight line and not much in terms of signs in Japanese let alone English. Getting lost naked and wet from the bath in the building might not be the best experience. It really is not that bad, but just a bit confusing at times.Kua House is a large complex much like Amayu House (Closed). There are capsule rooms, rest rooms, restaurants and banquet halls for guests. It is a very interesting building to explore for guests from abroad.Sadly the nearly 1,000 fee for just taking a bath makes Kua House an expensive choice when other nearby bath houses are half the price. Still, I always enjoy my time here. Coupons are available on occasion in newspapers and perhaps other sources. I get them from a friend who finds them in the (Japanese) Yomiyuri. The normal ¥920 entrance fee is lowered to ¥500.Hot Spring DataWell Name: Kobe Kua House - 神戸クアハウスType: Bicarbonate spring - 炭酸水素塩泉
Kobe Sauna & Spa
Kobe Sauna & Spa
Japanese Name: 神戸サウナ＆スパPrefecture: HyogoCity: Kobe - ChuoAddress: 兵庫県神戸市中央区下山手通2丁目2-10Access: 5 min walk from Hankyu, Hanshin, JR SannomiyaType: Hot Spring FacilityWebpage: http://www.kobe-sauna.co.jp/Price: ¥1500Holiday: NoneHours: 24hrReviewKobe's centrally located capsule hotel and overnight sauna. There’s a wide selection of saunas and an outdoor terrace. Capsule rooms for men and women also. Kobe Sauna and Spa has a Guinness World Record for having the most nationalities in the same sauna at the same time.
Hot Spring DataWell Name: Kaminoyu Onsen - 神乃湯温泉Type: Simple spring - 単純温泉pH: 6.2Type: Neutral - 中性Well Temperature: 27.4Type: Warm spring - 低温線Osmotic Pressure: Low - 低張性
Hot Spring DataWell Name: Kaminoyu Onsen - 神乃湯温泉Type: Simple spring - 単純温泉pH: 6.2Type: Neutral - 中性Well Temperature: 27.4Type: Warm spring - 低温線Osmotic Pressure: Low - 低張性
Nagisa no Yu
Nagisa no Yu
Japanese Name: なぎさの湯Prefecture: HyogoCity: Kobe - ChuoAddress: 兵庫県神戸市中央区脇浜海岸通１丁目３−３Access: 5 min walk from Hanshin KasuganomichiType: SupersentoWebpage: https://nagisa-u.com/Price: ¥820 (Weekends & Holidays: ¥920)Holiday: NoneHours: 10:00-25:00ReviewNagisa no Yu has a brownish colored onsen that gives your skin that nice clay feeling. It is not the best example of this type of spring as Takara no Yu in Takarazuka, or Ebisu Onsen in Akashi are much better. The view and other aspects of Nagisa stand out more so than the onsen.There are two major factors that make a trip to Nagisa worthwhile. First is the great view from the outdoor baths. The rock wall that encloses the outdoor baths has two viewing holes from which you can watch the traffic on the freeway and the harbor. The second is the saunas. On the men's side they are great. The rock sauna does a little light show before nozzles spray water down on the super heated rocks filling the room with steam. The large tower sauna just feels right, and it has some widows that look down at the adjacent park.The building is done in a modern style. The smoking balcony that's connected to the men's changing room was well thought out. They cover the building with a light show (projected from a big digital projector mounted in the men's rotenburo area) on occasion. I've seen it twice. It looks cool from the freeway also. In the summer there is also an outdoor patio for drinks and food.I've never had a bad time here, but there isn't much to say about the atmosphere here. It's a good supersento and quite family friendly, but it doesn't have any community feel like smaller sento do. The staff are very helpful and cheerful. My wife and seem to go here a few times a year. There is a museum, shopping center and movie theater near by along with the park that follows the harbor so there are other reasons to come here besides the baths. The park also has a free foot bath.Inside Nagisa there is a gym also, but it requires a membership.You have to check out the poor English on the signs throughout the building. It is some of the best, or worse, Engrish ever.
Hot Spring DataWell Name: Nagisa no Yu - なぎさの湯Type: Chloride spring - 塩化物泉pH: 7.36Type: Neutral - 中性Well Temperature: 35.2Type: warm spring - 低温線Osmotic Pressure: Low - 低張性
Hot Spring DataWell Name: Nagisa no Yu - なぎさの湯Type: Chloride spring - 塩化物泉pH: 7.36Type: Neutral - 中性Well Temperature: 35.2Type: warm spring - 低温線Osmotic Pressure: Low - 低張性
Rooftop footbath and view.
The rooftop relaxation area.
Manyo Club
Manyo Club
Japanese Name: 万葉倶楽部Prefecture: HyogoCity: Chuo WardAddress: 〒650-0044 兵庫県神戸市中央区東川崎町１丁目８−１ プロメナ神戸Access: JR Kōbe / Hankyu, Hanshin, Sanyō Kōsuku Kōbe / Kōbe Subway, Harborland - JR神戸駅、阪急阪神山陽高速神戸駅、神戸市営地下鉄ハーバーランド駅Category: Hot Spring Hotel w/ day useWebpage: www.manyo.co.jp/kobePrice: ¥¥2,300 (basic entrance fee good till 3am the following day)Holiday: NAHours: 24hr
Review:Manyo Club is a new version of the sauna capsule hotel concept for a new, family friendly generation. This is a place you go to spend an entire day with the family away from the confines of your own small house. Bathing is not the main focus of this institution. Entrance includes a yukata and free access to a manga library, game room, lounge, TV chairs, movie theater, rooftop footbath. For extra fees there are restaurants, food stalls and massage services. But this page is about the baths and you would expect that a place that costs over ¥2,000 to get in would have some pretty great baths! By now if you read this site you should know that it took me 3 years or so to try this place out was due to low expectations. The bathing area was small and had the minimum of baths to be considered supersento comparable. The mist sauna was tops I will say. All of the baths were well designed and the grated stone floor felt great on my feet. The spring water here is noticeable but it is shipped in and recycled so you will notice the chlorinating agents. Originally Manyo advertised that they had daily shipments of spring water from Wakayama. It appears they moved to a simple spring in Tojo, Central Hyogo. In all the photos of this place they really push the rooftop footbath. Those photos are nothing like the real thing. I could not have been more disappointed with the view and facilities. The view is behind glass that could be cleaner while the facilities are jerry rigged into the roof of this building and design was very much an afterthought. Materials looks cheap and store bought while the rooftop machinery (somewhat cooler to look at than the view) peak through making you lose illusion of what they are trying to sell to you. It was a good idea and if it advertisements were more realistic to the reality I would have not been so strict in this review. Oh and there is like 50 steps up to the top from the elevator. This is not accessible to people with mobility issues without consulting the staff. If you come here check it out because the view of Kobe is awesome, but, that said, any view of Kobe is awesome.
Visit Date: June 2020 *Hot Spring Data*Spring Type: Simple spring - 単純温泉Well Temperature: ?Temperature Type:? pH: ?pH Type:?Osmotic Pressure: ?Well Name: Satowaki Wakitama no Yu - さとわき湧玉の湯
Review:Manyo Club is a new version of the sauna capsule hotel concept for a new, family friendly generation. This is a place you go to spend an entire day with the family away from the confines of your own small house. Bathing is not the main focus of this institution. Entrance includes a yukata and free access to a manga library, game room, lounge, TV chairs, movie theater, rooftop footbath. For extra fees there are restaurants, food stalls and massage services. But this page is about the baths and you would expect that a place that costs over ¥2,000 to get in would have some pretty great baths! By now if you read this site you should know that it took me 3 years or so to try this place out was due to low expectations. The bathing area was small and had the minimum of baths to be considered supersento comparable. The mist sauna was tops I will say. All of the baths were well designed and the grated stone floor felt great on my feet. The spring water here is noticeable but it is shipped in and recycled so you will notice the chlorinating agents. Originally Manyo advertised that they had daily shipments of spring water from Wakayama. It appears they moved to a simple spring in Tojo, Central Hyogo. In all the photos of this place they really push the rooftop footbath. Those photos are nothing like the real thing. I could not have been more disappointed with the view and facilities. The view is behind glass that could be cleaner while the facilities are jerry rigged into the roof of this building and design was very much an afterthought. Materials looks cheap and store bought while the rooftop machinery (somewhat cooler to look at than the view) peak through making you lose illusion of what they are trying to sell to you. It was a good idea and if it advertisements were more realistic to the reality I would have not been so strict in this review. Oh and there is like 50 steps up to the top from the elevator. This is not accessible to people with mobility issues without consulting the staff. If you come here check it out because the view of Kobe is awesome, but, that said, any view of Kobe is awesome.
Visit Date: June 2020 *Hot Spring Data*Spring Type: Simple spring - 単純温泉Well Temperature: ?Temperature Type:? pH: ?pH Type:?Osmotic Pressure: ?Well Name: Satowaki Wakitama no Yu - さとわき湧玉の湯
Miyamoto Onsen
Miyamoto Onsen
Japanese Name: 宮本温泉Prefecture: HyogoCity: Chuo WardAddress: 兵庫県神戸市中央区宮本通１丁目２−６Closest Station: OjiKoen Station / 王子公園駅Category: SentoPrice: Hyogo Prefecture Public Bathhouse Association price or cheaper (sauna, if available, may be extra)Holiday: 14:00-23:30Hours: 7th, 17th & 27thReview:The Mineral Onyokusen glass sign above the door and the neon light sign meant that this was going to be an interesting bath. I have walked by this sento a few times in the past but never ended up visiting this bath till now. Inside I was surprised by the baths. This is a bare-bones basic sento with a deep and shallow bathtub in the middle of the room and a tile mosaic along the back wall. Compared to some of the sento nearby that have closed it is amazing that this bath has stayed open. All of the other nearby baths and saunas, jet baths, cold water. But the customers here seemed very loyal and the grandmother running the bandai brought all the bathers exiting the bath a small cup of cold tea--even the random hairy gaijin. There is a cold water shower mounted along the front wall that made this a better bathing experience. Make sure to check out the central drain mounted under the wall separating the women’s and men’s sides and do not trip on the gutter in the floor--a rare arrangement. Also pay attention to the lockers on the mountain side of the men’s changing room. They are built under the staircase providing access to the house above and have a staircase pattern to them. Good use of space. Overall this is a basic sento that shows its age. Good for completionists but not a place that I can recommend for first timers.Visit Date: January 2019
Ninomiya Onsen
Ninomiya Onsen
Japanese Name: 二宮温泉Prefecture: HyogoCity: Kobe - ChuoAddress: 兵庫県神戸市中央区二宮町４丁目２−１８Access: 5 min walk from Hankyu, Hanshin, JR SannomiyaType: SentoPrice: Hyogo Prefecture Public Bathhouse Association price or cheaper (sauna, if available, may be extra)Holiday: NoneHours: 14:00-10:00 (The next day)ReviewOne of the most useful onsen to know if you want to clean up before or after a night out in Sannomiya. Ninomiya Onsen is at the end of a shotengai northeast of Sannomiya station. This downtown sento is quite popular, and the staff is friendly and welcoming. The main bath is quite hot. There are some fun and rare jet baths including a spinning jet bath. There is no natural hot spring bath in the back. Years ago there might have been, but that is not the case now. Sauna might be closed.
Visit Date: January 2020
Visit Date: January 2020
Tsukasa-yu
Tsukasa-yu
Japanese Name: つかさ湯Prefecture: HyogoCity: Kobe - ChuoAddress: 兵庫県神戸市中央区下山手通り8-1-24Access: 5 min walk from Hanshin HanakumaType: SentoWebpage: http://www.e-mon.co.jp/totsugeki/tsukasa/index.htmlPrice: Hyogo Prefecture Public Bathhouse Association price or cheaper (sauna, if available, may be extra)Holiday: 1st and 3rd ThursdaysHours: 14:00-10:00ReviewBasic Yuasobihiroba group sento in a part of Kobe with not many other bathing options. I enjoyed the two floor design and general feel of this basic, yet wonderful sento. If you're in the neighborhood it's worth going too instead of traveling down to Shinkaichi or Sannomiya. Open all night!
Visit Date: January 2020
Visit Date: January 2020
*Closed* Asahi-yu
*Closed* Asahi-yu
Japanese Name: 朝日湯Prefecture: HyogoCity: Kobe - ChuoAddress: 兵庫県神戸市中央区旗塚通3-3-14Access: 5 min walk from Hankyu KasuganomichiType: Sento
ReviewAsahiyu is up the hill from Hankyu Kasuganomichi. Small sento with a broken steam bath and very weak jets. The cold water and normal baths are ok, but I don't see this one staying around much longer.
ReviewAsahiyu is up the hill from Hankyu Kasuganomichi. Small sento with a broken steam bath and very weak jets. The cold water and normal baths are ok, but I don't see this one staying around much longer.
*Closed* Waritsuka Onsen
*Closed* Waritsuka Onsen
Japanese Name: 割塚温泉Prefecture: HyogoCity: Kobe - ChuoAddress: 兵庫県神戸市中央区割塚通4-2-2Access: 5 min walk from Hankyu Kasuganomichi
ReviewA very basic sento. This one is really just a replacement for a bath in the home. It had a good feel despite being a bit beat down. It doesn't seem to be the place where many foreigners show up in either. The best part of this sento is the main deep bath. The most basic part of any sento, Wairtsuka just gets it perfect. The bath is big and deep. It's lined with blue tile. Once you get in you can feel the weight of all that water pushing the heat deep into your muscles. A simple bath, but a very refreshing one. The tile work here is simple but very colorful tiles on the bath has an impact. At the faucets there are bright blue and red plastic buttons which were of a style I've yet to see anywhere else.
Last visited: Fall 2018The bath is just as good as it was before with the great deep main bath. The steam sauna is now only run on set days.
ReviewA very basic sento. This one is really just a replacement for a bath in the home. It had a good feel despite being a bit beat down. It doesn't seem to be the place where many foreigners show up in either. The best part of this sento is the main deep bath. The most basic part of any sento, Wairtsuka just gets it perfect. The bath is big and deep. It's lined with blue tile. Once you get in you can feel the weight of all that water pushing the heat deep into your muscles. A simple bath, but a very refreshing one. The tile work here is simple but very colorful tiles on the bath has an impact. At the faucets there are bright blue and red plastic buttons which were of a style I've yet to see anywhere else.
Last visited: Fall 2018The bath is just as good as it was before with the great deep main bath. The steam sauna is now only run on set days.