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Atami Onsen
Atami Onsen
Japanese Name: 熱海温泉Prefecture: OsakaCity: Sumiyoshi WardAddress: 〒558-0032 大阪府大阪市住吉区遠里小野５丁目１１−１３Access: 5min from Nankai Abiko-Mae Station / 南海 我孫子前駅Category: SentoWebpage: https://twitter.com/atatataminsumi1 https://osaka268.com/sento/熱海温泉/Price: Osaka Prefecture Public Bathhouse Association price or cheaper (sauna, if available, may be extra)Holiday: SaturdayHours: 15:00-22:00
Review: I came here on an odd day. There was a hastily written sign saying the sento would be closed from the following day for a number of days. Reasons not given. In cases like this, it might be something broken with the boiler or, more likely, given the age of most sento owners, a hospital visit. Either way, I wish them or the boiler the best and a quick recovery. I want to recommend this sento, but in its current state, I cannot justify it. In general, the facilities are in good condition considering the age of the place. There is a lovely bubble/jet bath and a large dry sauna (+100yen) to enjoy. The main deep bath was vigorously heated. Looking at the ascetics, the design is angular and done in a late 70s brown. Unique, and I liked it! However, some things were off on my visit. For one, none of the baths were chlorinated. Typically this can be a good thing, but the water smelt off here. This smell was powerful in the cold water bath, where chlorination is the most important. Second, the steam sauna was not turned on. It did not look broken, nor was there a sign on the door. This might have been because of whatever was causing the upcoming temporary closure. So, it is hard to give a legitimate opinion about this sento. Hopefully, they will reopen, all will be back to normal, and the water quality will improve. Given the circumstances, I can only recommend this one to hardened sento people who have seen it all. Newbies would be best to avoid this one. If you do, please message me and tell me your thoughts. I only visit many of these sento once, and, like in this review, I might have visited Atami on an off day. Visit Date: July 2022
Review: I came here on an odd day. There was a hastily written sign saying the sento would be closed from the following day for a number of days. Reasons not given. In cases like this, it might be something broken with the boiler or, more likely, given the age of most sento owners, a hospital visit. Either way, I wish them or the boiler the best and a quick recovery. I want to recommend this sento, but in its current state, I cannot justify it. In general, the facilities are in good condition considering the age of the place. There is a lovely bubble/jet bath and a large dry sauna (+100yen) to enjoy. The main deep bath was vigorously heated. Looking at the ascetics, the design is angular and done in a late 70s brown. Unique, and I liked it! However, some things were off on my visit. For one, none of the baths were chlorinated. Typically this can be a good thing, but the water smelt off here. This smell was powerful in the cold water bath, where chlorination is the most important. Second, the steam sauna was not turned on. It did not look broken, nor was there a sign on the door. This might have been because of whatever was causing the upcoming temporary closure. So, it is hard to give a legitimate opinion about this sento. Hopefully, they will reopen, all will be back to normal, and the water quality will improve. Given the circumstances, I can only recommend this one to hardened sento people who have seen it all. Newbies would be best to avoid this one. If you do, please message me and tell me your thoughts. I only visit many of these sento once, and, like in this review, I might have visited Atami on an off day. Visit Date: July 2022
Mandai-yu
Mandai-yu
Japanese Name: 万代湯Prefecture: OsakaCity: Sumiyoshi WardAddress: 〒558-0055 大阪府大阪市住吉区万代６丁目９−２６Access: 10min from Nankai Sumiyoshi-Higashi Station / 南海 住吉東駅Category: SentoWebpage: https://osaka268.com/sento/%E4%B8%87%E4%BB%A3%E6%B9%AF/Price: Osaka Prefecture Public Bathhouse Association price or cheaper (sauna, if available, may be extra)Holiday: FridayHours: 15:30-23:00
Review: So, there's a point where a retro place becomes self-aware of being retro, and the sento begins to play towards that retro image. This place is very retro, knows it's retro, but doesn't try to soften the edges and sell its retro status. To be honest, I was surprised to find the retro sento postcards for sale here, judging by how bare-bones the establishment was. But, I was happy to see them for sale and bought both options for my collection. Being so much less self-aware than any of the other postcard sento makes visiting this sento an absolute joy and adds to its living museum feel. Pay attention to the thin glass and wooden frames on the doors leading to the toilets. Don't open or close them too hard for fear they would shatter. Everything here is from the era; the fan is 1970s beautiful--and I want it.
While the baths are cooler than I would want them to be in a more established sento, it doesn't matter. You come here to experience the age of this place.
I recommend that everybody interested in Japanese architecture, Showa era design, and sento visit this fantastic place. Come here and feel the years of use on the stone floor. But, like the partially collapsed roof over the entrance, this place is very old and fragile. Please be gentle.
Lastly, there are two kakari basins for splashing off. One of them is room temperature water. The other, covered by a wooden board with a hole, is extremely hot, so be careful.
Visit Date: February 2022
Review: So, there's a point where a retro place becomes self-aware of being retro, and the sento begins to play towards that retro image. This place is very retro, knows it's retro, but doesn't try to soften the edges and sell its retro status. To be honest, I was surprised to find the retro sento postcards for sale here, judging by how bare-bones the establishment was. But, I was happy to see them for sale and bought both options for my collection. Being so much less self-aware than any of the other postcard sento makes visiting this sento an absolute joy and adds to its living museum feel. Pay attention to the thin glass and wooden frames on the doors leading to the toilets. Don't open or close them too hard for fear they would shatter. Everything here is from the era; the fan is 1970s beautiful--and I want it.
While the baths are cooler than I would want them to be in a more established sento, it doesn't matter. You come here to experience the age of this place.
I recommend that everybody interested in Japanese architecture, Showa era design, and sento visit this fantastic place. Come here and feel the years of use on the stone floor. But, like the partially collapsed roof over the entrance, this place is very old and fragile. Please be gentle.
Lastly, there are two kakari basins for splashing off. One of them is room temperature water. The other, covered by a wooden board with a hole, is extremely hot, so be careful.
Visit Date: February 2022
Hamaguchi Onsen
Hamaguchi Onsen
Japanese Name: 浜口温泉Prefecture: OsakaCity: Sumiyoshi WardAddress: 〒558-0033 大阪府大阪市住吉区清水丘１丁目３１−１５Access: 10min from Nankai Suminoe Station / 南海 住ノ江駅 or 5min from Hankai Anryūchō Station / 阪堺 安立町駅Category: SentoWebpage: https://osaka268.com/sento/浜口温泉/Price: Osaka Prefecture Public Bathhouse Association price or cheaper (sauna, if available, may be extra)Holiday: MondayHours: 14:00-24:00
Review: Walked in, said hello, and dropped a ¥500 coin on the Bandai as is my custom. The lady working gave me ¥200 back. I was surprised until I saw the sign... Adults: ¥300! It's amazingly cheap here. Same as Ginsui-yu, the "cheapest" sento in Kansai. The baths here are also excellent. This is a smaller sento, but it has everything a bather would like. Yes, the steam sauna is a bit earthy smelling, but it is also good and strong. The cold water here is colder than usual and not heavily chlorinated. There are a few manner posters here. First, in the steam sauna, they ask you not to bring water in; in the cold-water bath, they ask you not to splash water out of the tub. If you want to cool your head, I recommend using the cold shower near the entrance. Next to the cold water in a small alcove is a strong medicated bath with electricity in the back half. Upstairs is a shallow outdoor tub with bubblers and a decent sky view. This bath is accessed by a metal spiral staircase, so make sure not to slip! The main deep and shallow bath also has a strong jet and electricity. Check out the fun-looking alcove tucked behind the staircase. I am sure kids love exploring that corner. Instead of a kakari basin, there is a shallow bath with strong bubbles near the entrance. They also had some children's toys laid out for use in the central deep bath. Just a lovely place and well worth the visit! https://youtu.be/CQQVDfPuj5w?t=130 Visit Date: June 2022
Review: Walked in, said hello, and dropped a ¥500 coin on the Bandai as is my custom. The lady working gave me ¥200 back. I was surprised until I saw the sign... Adults: ¥300! It's amazingly cheap here. Same as Ginsui-yu, the "cheapest" sento in Kansai. The baths here are also excellent. This is a smaller sento, but it has everything a bather would like. Yes, the steam sauna is a bit earthy smelling, but it is also good and strong. The cold water here is colder than usual and not heavily chlorinated. There are a few manner posters here. First, in the steam sauna, they ask you not to bring water in; in the cold-water bath, they ask you not to splash water out of the tub. If you want to cool your head, I recommend using the cold shower near the entrance. Next to the cold water in a small alcove is a strong medicated bath with electricity in the back half. Upstairs is a shallow outdoor tub with bubblers and a decent sky view. This bath is accessed by a metal spiral staircase, so make sure not to slip! The main deep and shallow bath also has a strong jet and electricity. Check out the fun-looking alcove tucked behind the staircase. I am sure kids love exploring that corner. Instead of a kakari basin, there is a shallow bath with strong bubbles near the entrance. They also had some children's toys laid out for use in the central deep bath. Just a lovely place and well worth the visit! https://youtu.be/CQQVDfPuj5w?t=130 Visit Date: June 2022
Tatsumi Onsen
Tatsumi Onsen
Japanese Name: 辰巳温泉Prefecture: OsakaCity: Sumiyoshi WardAddress: 〒558-0001 大阪府大阪市住吉区大領５丁目１０−１１Access: Osaka Metro or JR West Nagai Station - 10min walk / 大阪地下鉄・JR西日本 長居駅Category: SentoWebpage: http://spa-tatsumi.jugem.jp/Price: Osaka Prefecture Public Bathhouse Association price or cheaper (sauna, if available, may be extra)Holiday: WednesdayHours: 15:00-22:30
Review: This one was quirky from the start. The advertising light boards had been replaced. I have never seen those renewed ever never-the-less with brand new images! The name of the sento was inside a search box type motif even--quite interesting. Inside there were a bunch of younger guys drinking and smoking. Yep, smoking is still ok here! If you want to have that experience here is your chance to smoke cigarettes in a sento. I used to do it and a nice naked sento smoke is a unique experience. Tattoos also seemed to be OK but YMMV.In the changing room you need a 100-yen coin (returned) for the lockers. First time to see that in a normal sento. Then there were three half globes with moss, or some other plant attached to the main mirror. There was a water cooler. Then there was the poster with the history of the Fujiiryōki massage chairs. Those old ones you often see in the sento still working are from the 1950's. Wow!In the bath you'll have some great pebble style tile all around but especially in the kakari basin. There are also bags, the refill bags from the home center, full of shampoo, conditioner and body soap hanging from the wall in the most unique fashion. The owners here are definitely proud of their sento and willing to think outside of the box.Oh! and the baths were pretty nice, good deep and shallow. Small, but very enjoyable, waterfall filled cold water tub. The treated outdoor bath, despite being super small, was my favorite. There is also a dry sauna here but that costs extra.Interesting place, very quirky, recommended.
Visit Date: March 2021
Review: This one was quirky from the start. The advertising light boards had been replaced. I have never seen those renewed ever never-the-less with brand new images! The name of the sento was inside a search box type motif even--quite interesting. Inside there were a bunch of younger guys drinking and smoking. Yep, smoking is still ok here! If you want to have that experience here is your chance to smoke cigarettes in a sento. I used to do it and a nice naked sento smoke is a unique experience. Tattoos also seemed to be OK but YMMV.In the changing room you need a 100-yen coin (returned) for the lockers. First time to see that in a normal sento. Then there were three half globes with moss, or some other plant attached to the main mirror. There was a water cooler. Then there was the poster with the history of the Fujiiryōki massage chairs. Those old ones you often see in the sento still working are from the 1950's. Wow!In the bath you'll have some great pebble style tile all around but especially in the kakari basin. There are also bags, the refill bags from the home center, full of shampoo, conditioner and body soap hanging from the wall in the most unique fashion. The owners here are definitely proud of their sento and willing to think outside of the box.Oh! and the baths were pretty nice, good deep and shallow. Small, but very enjoyable, waterfall filled cold water tub. The treated outdoor bath, despite being super small, was my favorite. There is also a dry sauna here but that costs extra.Interesting place, very quirky, recommended.
Visit Date: March 2021
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