Nara City - 奈良市

Nara Park Hotel

Japanese Name: 奈良パークホテルPrefecture: NaraCity: NaraAddress: 631-0845 奈良県奈良市宝来4丁目18Access: 30min from Kintetsu Yamato-Saidaiji or 20min from Kintetu Amagasuji [近鉄 大和西大寺・尼ヶ辻]Category: Hot Spring Hotel w/ day useWebpage: https://www.narapark.jp/Price: ¥1,000Holiday: NoneHours: 11:00-21:00
Review: Two baths one indoors and one outdoors in different sides (called ichi and ni, ha!) which seem to change on a schedule. Aesthetically this place is awesome. There is a ton of cool old school 70-80s bubble glory to experience in the lobby. Sadly, the spring is indifferent and, judging by the changes to the spring report poster, it has lowered in quality over the years. There is a mild squeaky skin feel to the water, kind of decent after bath feel but all in all not very noticeable. The outdoor bath has a great waterfall filling it and traditionally garden is kept the indoor bath. However, they really chlorinate it to the point of smelling like an American highway hotel pool—something that I do like for nostalgic reasons. Try to go on the 26th of the month (風呂の日)as entrance is only ¥500 which better suits what you’re getting for the money. Recommended to see the glory of bubble-era design in Japan but be warned that the baths and onsen are so-so. Visit Date: September 2021 *Hot Spring Data*Spring Type: Simple spring - 単純温泉Well Temperature: 25.5°CTemperature Type: Warm spring - 低温泉pH: 7.3pH Type: Neutral - 中性Osmotic Pressure: Low - 低張性Well Name: Hōrai Onsen - 宝来温泉

Nara Royal Hotel

Japanese Name: 奈良ロイヤルホテルPrefecture: NaraCity: NaraAddress: 奈良県奈良市法華寺町254−1Closest Station: ShinOmiya Station / 新大宮駅Category: Hot Spring Hotel w/ day useWebpage: https://nara-royal.co.jp/onsen/Price: ¥1800Holiday: NoneHours: 12:00-24:00
Review:No need to go to the hotel entrance, there is a side entrance on the west side that goes straight to the basement bathing area. This is almost like New Japan or other large sauna complexes, without all the bath options. The bathing area is all done in white marble. There is a lounge with drinks for sale. Massages of course. Interesting time capsule of a Japan from long ago. There are two hot spring baths, one with bubbles. The spring is very noticeable on the skin. It is a squeaky feeling. Quite nice but as there is no posted hot spring information I am unsure if this is trucked in or from a spring on site. The cold bath was fine and not too cold. Sauna was giant like those in the big sauna complexes. The most interesting thing here that I was surprised to see was a walking bath at 32°C. It might have been hot spring water but I am not sure. There was a grandpa in there walking back and forth so I joined him. I bet it was afraid that I was going to ignore all the English (Japanese, Korean and Chinese) warning signs and try to swim in the walking pool. He gave me a quick nod while we passed after he realized I was going to walk like him. I went back and forth 10 times and really enjoyed it. Walking baths are great fun if you can find them and good exercise also. Check their website for a discount coupon. This place is not worth the full ¥1800 price but at ¥920 it is very reasonable for the spring quality and amenities. Good for people who really like dry saunas and happen to be in Nara.Visit Date: October 2019 *Hot Spring Data*Spring Type: Bicarbonate spring - 炭酸水素塩泉Well Temperature: 33.1°CpH: 7.6Well Name: Tenpyo no Yu - 天平の湯

Onishi-yu

Japanese Name: 大西湯Prefecture: NaraCity: NaraAddress: 奈良県奈良市中筋町18Access: Kintetsu Nara Station / 近鉄奈良駅Type: SentoWebpage: Price: Nara Prefecture Public Bathhouse Association price or cheaper (sauna, if available, may be extra)Holiday: Monday & FridayHours: 15:00-21:00
ReviewSmall and friendly little sento with a very clean feeling to it. Nice little tile work along the back wall. Great old style lockers in the changing room that are a must see. The herb bath is a good bonus. Great location for a bath on the way back from a day trip to Nara. Very recommended.

Tsukigase Onsen

Japanese Name: 月ヶ瀬温泉Prefecture: NaraCity: NaraAddress: 奈良県奈良市月ヶ瀬尾山2681Closest Station: Category: Hot Spring FacilityWebpage: http://tsukigaseonsen.com/Price: ¥800Holiday: 1st & 3rd TuesdayHours: 10:30-20:30
Review:I was expecting a lot more from this hot spring as people had recommended it to me and because it was in the far eastern tip of Nara prefecture. This place is still in “Nara City” but it is closer to Iga-Ueno Castle than Todaiji. ‘We actually made a quick trip to the castle and ninja museum before the bath and found it good fun--recommended.) So this is a local meeting hall, public welfare building, local produce shop, small restaurant and natural hot spring bath--a combination that is somewhat normal in rural areas like this. There is a 30℃ gensenkakenagashi [源泉掛け流し | straight from the well] bath here, but they put way too much chlorine [塩素] into the water here that the smell is overbearing and I cannot really say that the bath had much of an effect on my skin. There was no particular waterfeel either. Afterwards, as I write this, I am still unsure if there was any effect. The other baths also had a strong chlorine smell to them. I kind of like it as it reminds me of swimming in hotel pools while on family vacation, but I cannot recommend a hot spring on that basis. So, sadly, I will have to say that the appeal of this place is the location, the design of the baths more so than the spring. That said, the design is well done in a rocky, natural style and the rural location is superb, but if you are thinking of heading out to rural Nara for a bath there are some better options such as Akino no Yu or Okame no Yu. The other side has a bath on the roof that my daughter and wife found interesting.
Visit Date: February 2020 *Hot Spring Data*Spring Type: Simple spring - 単純温泉Well Temperature: 28.8°CTemperature Type: Warm spring - 低温泉pH: 7.82pH Type: Weak alkaline - 弱アルカリ性Osmotic Pressure: Low - 低張性Well Name: Umi no Sato Tsukigase Onsen - 梅の里月ヶ瀬温泉

Yurara Onsen - Nara

Japanese Name: ゆららの湯 奈良店Prefecture: NaraCity: NaraAddress: 奈良県奈良市八条5丁目351−1Closest Station: JR Nara Station / JR奈良駅Category: Supersento w/ natural hot springWebpage: https://www.yuraranoyu.jp/nara.htmlPrice: ¥720 (Weekends & holidays ¥770)Holiday: NoneHours: 10:00-25:00 (Weekends & holidays 7:00-25:00)
Review:Large supersento complex. Full set of baths and saunas. The outdoor bath has a natural hot spring. It is a bit mysterious however as the signs says one thing spring but the hot spring certification in the changing room says something else. The other Yurara no Yu in the chain had the roof over one of their outdoor baths collapse on some customers in 2018. You can see some interesting aftermarket reinforcements on the roof supports here. I went on busy day during the New Year's celebrations and this place was just packed. I would avoid going on busy days.
Visit Date: January 2019

Yurara Onsen - Oshikuma

Japanese Name: ゆらら温泉押熊店Prefecture: NaraCity: NaraAddress: 奈良県奈良市押熊町2147-1Access: Gakken Nara Tomigaoka Station / 学研奈良登美ヶ丘駅Type: Supersento w/ natural hot springWebpage: http://www.yuraranoyu.jp/oshikuma.htmlPrice: ¥750 (Weekends and Holidays: ¥800)Holiday: NoneHours: 10:00-25:00 (Weekends and Holidays: 7:00-25:00)
ReviewPretty big supersento up in the mountains between Nara and Osaka prefectures. Went there on a holiday and the place was packed. We had to wait for a parking spot. Being packed, and being a holiday evening, the manner of the other bathers and the atmosphere was much different than it typically is I hope. That said the baths are very unique. Part of it wanted to be a serene Japanese garden, the other part wanted to be a pachinko parlor. The main fixture was the large waterfall that fed a manmade river that went down the middle of the rotenburo area. Sadly you cant play in the river--signs were posted in Japanese, English, and Korean. The spring was so-so, but noticeable. I hope to return someday and check out the Thai bath that was for the women's the day I went. Too bad it's so far away.
Update 2020 January: One of the roofs over the outdoor bath failed killing 3 men in the bath. Since then the baths have been remodeled. The other supersento in this Yurara chain also has installed extra bracing for the roofs above their outdoor baths.
Hot Spring DataType: Simple spring - 単純温泉pH: ?Type: Weak Alkaline - 弱アリカリ性Well Temperature: 32.9℃Type: - Warm Spring - 低温線Osmotic Pressure: Low - 低張性

*CLOSED* Gokuraku-yu - Nara

Japanese Name: 極楽湯 奈良店Prefecture: NaraCity: NaraAddress: 〒630-8134 奈良県奈良市大安寺町510Access: 15 min from Kintetsu Shin-Ōmiya Station / 近鉄 新大宮駅Category: SupersentoWebpage: https://www.gokurakuyu.ne.jp/tempo/nara/Price: ¥450Holiday: NoneHours: 7:00-25:00 (Weekends & Holidays: 6:00-25:00)
Review:*Closed* Not surprised to see this one shut down. Check out the Gokuraku in Hirakata for a good version of what this could have been.I wouldn't call it dirty, but I can say they are not doing as much cleaning or maintenance as they should be doing. Sadly this is typical for the Gokuraku-yu chain of supersento. I am not saying do not go here, but there is really no reason to go out of your way to go here. The best thing about it was the very very strong jet-baths, however that seems to me as a sign that the jet-bath pumps are breaking. So, I can see this place closing down in the next year (2021). The manner of the regulars seemed to be quite pleasant. Be aware that there is no shampoo or body soap so bring your own. This is common for a ¥450 supersento experience. Considering that Yurara no Yu is just down the street, I would try that out before visiting this supersento.Visit Date: November 2020