Sakai City - 堺市
Asahi-yu
Asahi-yu
Japanese Name: 旭湯Prefecture: OsakaCity: Sakai CityAddress: 〒599-8114 大阪府堺市東区日置荘西町３丁８−７ 旭湯Access: Nankai Hatsushiba Station 10min / 南海 初芝駅Category: SentoWebpage: https://e-sento.com/旭湯/Price: Osaka Prefecture Public Bathhouse Association price or cheaper (sauna, if available, may be extra)Holiday: WednesdayHours: 15:00-23:30 (Sunday: 13:00-23:30)
Review: Normal Kansai sento are where I feel the safest in the world. Places where everything just works. After a long hike, sento are even better. If you are coming off the mountain and headed into Osaka on the Nankai Kōya line, this is one of the only options that is close to a station. It is a little bit worse for wear here and there with some broken fixtures and green mold seeping in behind a sign or two, but that was not a big issue. There are two different baths here which change periodically. One has a radon dry sauna, the other has an outdoor bath. I was on the radon sauna side (extra ¥100 for the towel) and enjoyed the enclosed bath that was a bit steamier than the rest of the baths and had a lovely aroma added to the water. It was not a steam or radon bath, so this was a first of this type. They also had two laydown full body jet baths which were great after the hike I just did. Cold water was fine also with a strong waterfall fixture filling it. Another quirk, you must climb into the electric bath from the main deep bath--somewhat odd. I saw several tattooed users, so it appears to be OK for fashion tattoos too. Had a nice conversation with a one of the tattooed guys and his 3-year-old son who was super cute. Visit Date: February 2021
Review: Normal Kansai sento are where I feel the safest in the world. Places where everything just works. After a long hike, sento are even better. If you are coming off the mountain and headed into Osaka on the Nankai Kōya line, this is one of the only options that is close to a station. It is a little bit worse for wear here and there with some broken fixtures and green mold seeping in behind a sign or two, but that was not a big issue. There are two different baths here which change periodically. One has a radon dry sauna, the other has an outdoor bath. I was on the radon sauna side (extra ¥100 for the towel) and enjoyed the enclosed bath that was a bit steamier than the rest of the baths and had a lovely aroma added to the water. It was not a steam or radon bath, so this was a first of this type. They also had two laydown full body jet baths which were great after the hike I just did. Cold water was fine also with a strong waterfall fixture filling it. Another quirk, you must climb into the electric bath from the main deep bath--somewhat odd. I saw several tattooed users, so it appears to be OK for fashion tattoos too. Had a nice conversation with a one of the tattooed guys and his 3-year-old son who was super cute. Visit Date: February 2021
Gokuraku-yu SakaiSenboku
Gokuraku-yu SakaiSenboku
Japanese Name: 極楽湯 堺泉北店Prefecture: OsakaCity: SakaiAddress: 〒590-0106 大阪府堺市南区豊田８２５Access: 30min from Semboku Rapid Izumigaoka [泉北高速鉄道 泉ヶ丘]Category: Supersento w/ natural hot springWebpage: https://www.gokurakuyu.ne.jp/tempo/sakaisenboku/Price: ¥740 (Weekend & Holiday: ¥820Holiday: NoneHours: 9:00-26:00 (Weekend & Holidays: 6:00-26:00)
Review: This outlet of the Gokuraku chain boasts a decent natural spring. It has a bit of an eraser powder feeling to it and you can see the white buildup on the rocks. There they have an oddly remodeled steam sauna with small rocks glued into the walls and littered across the floor. I guess this was to make it classy, but it looks a bit half-assed. The steam wasn’t very strong either. Big cold-water bath that I enjoyed along with the super strong jets. One of the best Gokuraku supersento that I have visited. Visit Date: September 2021 *Hot Spring Data*Spring Type: Chloride spring - 塩化物泉Well Temperature: 38.1°CTemperature Type: Hot spring - 温泉pH: 7.5pH Type: Weak alkaline - 弱アルカリ性Osmotic Pressure: Low - 低張性Well Name: Senboku Tomita Onsen Shizen no Yu - 泉北富田温泉 自然の湯
Hatsushiba Onsen
Hatsushiba Onsen
Japanese Name: 初芝温泉Prefecture: OsakaCity: SakaiAddress: 〒599-8111 大阪府堺市東区日置荘北町１丁２−１５Access: 15min from Nankai Hatsushiba Station / 南海 初芝駅Category: SentoWebpage: https://osaka268.com/sento/%E5%88%9D-%E8%8A%9D-%E6%B9%AF/Price: Osaka Prefecture Public Bathhouse Association price or cheaper (sauna, if available, may be extra)Holiday: Monday, FridayHours: 14:30-10:30
Review: A very interesting place. The tiles along the wall had a purple, brown, and white color scheme. It looked like a Windows 95 background. As common with many sento, there were ads in the mirrors by the showers, but what was completely uncommon was they had ads for a (closed) adult video store. The outdoor bath was broken or just unfilled during my visit, and the small door was unlocked. In the rear was a cold-water bath filled vigorously through a stone stair-stepping waterfall that seemed out of place but pretty cool. The dry sauna (extra fee) was quite popular on my visit. There was also a steam sauna, but it smelt so bad I left after a few seconds. The electric bath was so-so. Lots of tattoos. Lots of beer drinking too! It seems like a kind of rich neighborhood judging by the size of the houses, but the customers in the bath seemed more like day laborers. I liked it here, but it's not worth going out of your way for. Use the showers on the sidewalls for more pressure as the dividing wall showers were a little weak. Here's a local blog about the sento: https://sakai-news.jp/life/20210408_a046_bath
Visit Date: April 2022
Review: A very interesting place. The tiles along the wall had a purple, brown, and white color scheme. It looked like a Windows 95 background. As common with many sento, there were ads in the mirrors by the showers, but what was completely uncommon was they had ads for a (closed) adult video store. The outdoor bath was broken or just unfilled during my visit, and the small door was unlocked. In the rear was a cold-water bath filled vigorously through a stone stair-stepping waterfall that seemed out of place but pretty cool. The dry sauna (extra fee) was quite popular on my visit. There was also a steam sauna, but it smelt so bad I left after a few seconds. The electric bath was so-so. Lots of tattoos. Lots of beer drinking too! It seems like a kind of rich neighborhood judging by the size of the houses, but the customers in the bath seemed more like day laborers. I liked it here, but it's not worth going out of your way for. Use the showers on the sidewalls for more pressure as the dividing wall showers were a little weak. Here's a local blog about the sento: https://sakai-news.jp/life/20210408_a046_bath
Visit Date: April 2022
Kame no Yu
Kame no Yu
Japanese Name: 亀乃湯Prefecture: OsakaCity: SakaiAddress: 大阪府堺市北区黒土町2264-3Access: Mikunigaoka Station / 三国ヶ丘駅Type: Supersento w/ natural hot springWebpage: http://www.kamenoyu.net/Price: ¥700 (Weekends and Holidays ¥800)Holiday: NoneHours: 10:00-26:00 (Weekends Holidays 7:00-26:00)
ReviewLocated a 10 minute walk from Mikunigaoka station Kame no Yu is a fine supersento with mostly outdoor baths. The baths here are very well built and thought out especially the large rocky outdoor ones. Kame no Yo, like most supersento built recently, has a large TV (with audio) on the wall next to the main outdoor bath. Thankfully, a separate section of the bath is somewhat removed from the TV, but the audio is unavoidable.While the baths were all very comfortable and beautiful, I found the lack of any landscaping outside to complement them to be a flaw. The large outdoor area had the baths laid out as if they were in a Costco warehouse for sale. There was some loose rock, but it lacked any rock garden feeling to it. It seemed like they just forgot to plant anything there. It was somewhat off-putting especially as I went during the daylight hours. The lack of any green to contrast the white walls and grey rocks of the baths made the area seem unfinished.That's a minor critique as the baths inside and out, including a wonderful shallow indoor bath lined with great brown stone and topped with cedar really make Kame no Yu a wonderful option if you're in the Sakai area.Despite just being a simple hot spring, it had a "this is really an onsen" feel. I left refreshed and happy I took the trip to one of my favorite neighborhoods in Kansai to enjoy it.If you were unaware, just on the opposite side of the station is the tomb of Emperor Nintoku. This keyhole shaped burial mound, called kofun in Japanese, is the largest in Japan.
Hot Spring DataWell Name: Goryo Tennen Onsen - 御陵天然温泉Type: Simple Hot Spring - 単純温泉Well Temperature: 40.1°CType: Hot spring - 温泉Osmotic Pressure: Low - 低張性
ReviewLocated a 10 minute walk from Mikunigaoka station Kame no Yu is a fine supersento with mostly outdoor baths. The baths here are very well built and thought out especially the large rocky outdoor ones. Kame no Yo, like most supersento built recently, has a large TV (with audio) on the wall next to the main outdoor bath. Thankfully, a separate section of the bath is somewhat removed from the TV, but the audio is unavoidable.While the baths were all very comfortable and beautiful, I found the lack of any landscaping outside to complement them to be a flaw. The large outdoor area had the baths laid out as if they were in a Costco warehouse for sale. There was some loose rock, but it lacked any rock garden feeling to it. It seemed like they just forgot to plant anything there. It was somewhat off-putting especially as I went during the daylight hours. The lack of any green to contrast the white walls and grey rocks of the baths made the area seem unfinished.That's a minor critique as the baths inside and out, including a wonderful shallow indoor bath lined with great brown stone and topped with cedar really make Kame no Yu a wonderful option if you're in the Sakai area.Despite just being a simple hot spring, it had a "this is really an onsen" feel. I left refreshed and happy I took the trip to one of my favorite neighborhoods in Kansai to enjoy it.If you were unaware, just on the opposite side of the station is the tomb of Emperor Nintoku. This keyhole shaped burial mound, called kofun in Japanese, is the largest in Japan.
Hot Spring DataWell Name: Goryo Tennen Onsen - 御陵天然温泉Type: Simple Hot Spring - 単純温泉Well Temperature: 40.1°CType: Hot spring - 温泉Osmotic Pressure: Low - 低張性
Minatoshio-Yu
Minatoshio-Yu
Japanese Name: 湊潮湯Prefecture: OsakaCity: SakaiAddress: 大阪府堺市堺区出島海岸通１丁２−１３湊潮湯らぽーる２Access: 5 minute walk from Minato (湊) Station on the Nankai Main Line.Type: SentoWebpage: http://www.eonet.ne.jp/~minatoshioyu/index.htmlPrice: Osaka Prefecture Public Bathhouse Association price or cheaper (sauna, if available, may be extra)Holiday: WednesdayHours: 15:00-23:00
ReviewOnce years ago most of the sento along the Osaka Bay would build pipes to the ocean and suck that salt water up, heat it up and make a nice bath out of it. Sadly, all those baths are gone now except for this one, Minatoshio-yu in Sakai. A 2.5km pipe runs from the bathhouse to the harbor where the water is pumped back. It is then stored (and assumedly filtered somehow) before being put into a boiler and then an indoor bath an outdoor bath. Otherwise this is an above average sento with a good electric and deep bath. The cold bath is a bit small and could barely fit two people. That said it is a great sento with a unique history that it worth experiencing.
Visit: November 2019
Old ReviewAccording to their webpage this the last surviving salt water sento in Kansai. The salt isn't as strong as straight ocean water so it doesn't leave you sticky, but if you have any sore spots they will sting just as my inner thighs did. Ignoring the stinging the salt water is very refreshing. They pull the water from 2km away, run it through some processing, heat it and pump it into the baths. If you happen to get any of the bathwater in your mouth, you'll know for sure that it's from the ocean. Minatoshi-yu looks recently remodeled and has a very clean feeling to it. It's very bright and open inside, despite its low ceiling. This is in contrast to the cluttered lobby that seems to be the gossiping spot for the local grandmothers. At least the night I went there was lots of chatting going on. I also think I heard the grandmother behind the counter ask her counterpart at the food bar, "Gaijin daijyobu desuka?" (Are foreigners ok?) when I entered. I didn't hear the reply, but I wasn't asked anything unusual at the counter. Perhaps foreigners are a rarity there, or the grandma was filling in for the typical front person Just didn’t know what to do. I know of two Supersento in western Kobe that also have saltwater baths, but haven't yet added them to this page. The salt water is an uncommon in sentos and worth trying at least once. I would put this down as one of the more unique sentos in the Kansai area and worth going out of your way to try.
ReviewOnce years ago most of the sento along the Osaka Bay would build pipes to the ocean and suck that salt water up, heat it up and make a nice bath out of it. Sadly, all those baths are gone now except for this one, Minatoshio-yu in Sakai. A 2.5km pipe runs from the bathhouse to the harbor where the water is pumped back. It is then stored (and assumedly filtered somehow) before being put into a boiler and then an indoor bath an outdoor bath. Otherwise this is an above average sento with a good electric and deep bath. The cold bath is a bit small and could barely fit two people. That said it is a great sento with a unique history that it worth experiencing.
Visit: November 2019
Old ReviewAccording to their webpage this the last surviving salt water sento in Kansai. The salt isn't as strong as straight ocean water so it doesn't leave you sticky, but if you have any sore spots they will sting just as my inner thighs did. Ignoring the stinging the salt water is very refreshing. They pull the water from 2km away, run it through some processing, heat it and pump it into the baths. If you happen to get any of the bathwater in your mouth, you'll know for sure that it's from the ocean. Minatoshi-yu looks recently remodeled and has a very clean feeling to it. It's very bright and open inside, despite its low ceiling. This is in contrast to the cluttered lobby that seems to be the gossiping spot for the local grandmothers. At least the night I went there was lots of chatting going on. I also think I heard the grandmother behind the counter ask her counterpart at the food bar, "Gaijin daijyobu desuka?" (Are foreigners ok?) when I entered. I didn't hear the reply, but I wasn't asked anything unusual at the counter. Perhaps foreigners are a rarity there, or the grandma was filling in for the typical front person Just didn’t know what to do. I know of two Supersento in western Kobe that also have saltwater baths, but haven't yet added them to this page. The salt water is an uncommon in sentos and worth trying at least once. I would put this down as one of the more unique sentos in the Kansai area and worth going out of your way to try.
Okumoto Onsen
Okumoto Onsen
Japanese Name: 奥本温泉Prefecture: OsakaCity: SakaiAddress: 〒591-8007 大阪府堺市北区 奥本町1丁78−3Access: 10min from Osaka Metro Kitahanada [大阪地下鉄 北花田]Category: SentoPrice: Osaka Prefecture Public Bathhouse Association price or cheaper (sauna, if available, may be extra)Holiday: SaturdayHours: 15:15-23:00
Review: Very clean simple sento with no posters or signage in the changing room leading to the clean, solemn feeling. Some broken tile here and there but nothing too bad. Great stylized lights in the changing room so make sure to look up. Very quiet in the bath here maybe because of the COVID-19 黙浴 rules. I enjoyed the sub-basement steam bath, small but wonderful cold-water bath especially as I visited on the way home from a hike. Visit Date: October 2021
Review: Very clean simple sento with no posters or signage in the changing room leading to the clean, solemn feeling. Some broken tile here and there but nothing too bad. Great stylized lights in the changing room so make sure to look up. Very quiet in the bath here maybe because of the COVID-19 黙浴 rules. I enjoyed the sub-basement steam bath, small but wonderful cold-water bath especially as I visited on the way home from a hike. Visit Date: October 2021
Sakai ShinOnsen
Sakai ShinOnsen
Japanese Name: 堺新温泉Prefecture: OsakaCity: SakaiAddress: 〒590-0950 大阪府堺市堺区甲斐町西２丁２−13Access: 10min from Nanaki Sakai Station or 5min from Hankai Ōshōji station / 南海 堺・阪堺 大小路駅Category: SentoWebpage: https://osaka268.com/sento/%e5%a0%ba%e6%96%b0%e6%b8%a9%e6%b3%89/Price: Osaka Prefecture Public Bathhouse Association price or cheaper (sauna, if available, may be extra)Holiday: WednesdayHours: 14:00-23:00
Review: Compact but friendly design that reminded me of Shinmaneki Onsen in Matsubara. The cold-water bath has a lazy river generator to do core muscle exercises against the water pressure, but it is broken. So now it has a broken lazy river generator soaking in the water. The steam sauna is nice. However, if you sit on the side facing the front of the sento, use a mat as the marble bench will burn your bum--something I learned in person. Outside there is a shallow, rock-lined "radon" bath with a small TV. The rain cover above is permanently closed, blocking out the sky. Somewhat of a bummer, but there would not be much of a view anyhow. All the baths are filled with well water. I liked the feel but was not sure how much of an effect it had or if that was from the well or not. An all-around good place, and I was happy to visit this friendly sento.
Note: The toilet door may be locked by mistake. Ask the person in the bandai to open it for you.
Visit Date: February 2022
Review: Compact but friendly design that reminded me of Shinmaneki Onsen in Matsubara. The cold-water bath has a lazy river generator to do core muscle exercises against the water pressure, but it is broken. So now it has a broken lazy river generator soaking in the water. The steam sauna is nice. However, if you sit on the side facing the front of the sento, use a mat as the marble bench will burn your bum--something I learned in person. Outside there is a shallow, rock-lined "radon" bath with a small TV. The rain cover above is permanently closed, blocking out the sky. Somewhat of a bummer, but there would not be much of a view anyhow. All the baths are filled with well water. I liked the feel but was not sure how much of an effect it had or if that was from the well or not. An all-around good place, and I was happy to visit this friendly sento.
Note: The toilet door may be locked by mistake. Ask the person in the bandai to open it for you.
Visit Date: February 2022
Sarasa no Yu
Sarasa no Yu
Japanese Name: さらさのゆPrefecture: OsakaCity: SakaiAddress: 大阪府堺市北区蔵前町1-3-5Access: Sakaishi Station / 堺市駅Type: Supersento w/ natural hot springWebpage: http://www.sarasanoyu.com/Price: ¥700 (Weekends & Holidays: ¥750)Holiday: NoneHours: 9:00-26:00
ReviewDon't let the 10 minute walk or frustrating parking lot dissuade you from this gem of a supersento in Sakai. This two story with the baths on the roof style bathhouse has some unique baths that make it one of the best in the area.The spring water is brownish and stains all the baths it's used in. They really market the fact that the spring is from 1,350m deep well and the heat of the water. The 52 degree water isn't fed in to the baths straight thankfully. This is one of those baths that you can tell that it's truly real spring water. The signature bath fed by a waterfall a little taller than myself was one of the best I've seen.Besides the spring water baths, the normal baths are quite nice too. There is a luke warm carbonated bath that is just divine to chill off in... if you can find a space. There's also a kiddy bath with rubber ducks to play with.Downsides? Really cramped changing room and it's always been packed.Secret hint! Great Engrish on the menu in the restaurant. You'll get a chuckle from it. I even posted it on my blog.The two baths are different in design and change daily.
Hot Spring DataWell Name: Kigenzen Onsen Saiko no Yu - 紀元前温泉 最古乃湯Type: Chloride spring - 塩化物泉pH: 7.3Type: Neutral - 中性Well Temperature: 51.7°CType: Extra hot spring - 高温泉Osmotic Pressure: Low - 低張性
ReviewDon't let the 10 minute walk or frustrating parking lot dissuade you from this gem of a supersento in Sakai. This two story with the baths on the roof style bathhouse has some unique baths that make it one of the best in the area.The spring water is brownish and stains all the baths it's used in. They really market the fact that the spring is from 1,350m deep well and the heat of the water. The 52 degree water isn't fed in to the baths straight thankfully. This is one of those baths that you can tell that it's truly real spring water. The signature bath fed by a waterfall a little taller than myself was one of the best I've seen.Besides the spring water baths, the normal baths are quite nice too. There is a luke warm carbonated bath that is just divine to chill off in... if you can find a space. There's also a kiddy bath with rubber ducks to play with.Downsides? Really cramped changing room and it's always been packed.Secret hint! Great Engrish on the menu in the restaurant. You'll get a chuckle from it. I even posted it on my blog.The two baths are different in design and change daily.
Hot Spring DataWell Name: Kigenzen Onsen Saiko no Yu - 紀元前温泉 最古乃湯Type: Chloride spring - 塩化物泉pH: 7.3Type: Neutral - 中性Well Temperature: 51.7°CType: Extra hot spring - 高温泉Osmotic Pressure: Low - 低張性
Shofuku
Shofuku
Japanese Name: 祥福Prefecture: OsakaCity: SakaiAddress: 大阪府堺市堺区築港八幡町１−１Type: Supersento w/ natural hot springWebpage: http://www.syofukunoyu.com/sakaihama/index.htmlPrice: ¥750Holiday: NoneHours: 9:00-26:00 (Weekends and Holidays: 6:00-26:00)
ReviewShofuku won a readers poll in a recent higaeri (day) spa guide magazine so I was hoping for something a bit more. Yes they had some great baths including carbonated ones, but the bathing area was small and quite busy on the Sunday afternoon I went. Shofuku is a very family friendly place, or, at least, it's got a lot of families who go there together. Again, not a bad thing and I was there on Sunday at noon--of course there is going to be a lot of families. If you live in the neighborhood, it's a good option for supersentos. It's also quite easy to get to by bus from Nankai Sakai station (south bus stop).
It seems that the ganbanyoku/relaxation area (extra fee) is quite popular with the customers as is the buffet.Interestingly enough they also had pamphlets including bathing instructions in English, Korean, and Chinese. I didn't see any other foreigners during my time there and was quite surprised to see information in any language other than Japanese.
Weekends and holidays the baths are open all night for an extra fee and they offer overnight capsule rooms throughout the week.
Hot Spring DataWell Name: Sakaihama Rakuten Onsen - 堺浜楽天温泉Type: Simple Alkaline Hot Spring - アルカリ性単純泉
ReviewShofuku won a readers poll in a recent higaeri (day) spa guide magazine so I was hoping for something a bit more. Yes they had some great baths including carbonated ones, but the bathing area was small and quite busy on the Sunday afternoon I went. Shofuku is a very family friendly place, or, at least, it's got a lot of families who go there together. Again, not a bad thing and I was there on Sunday at noon--of course there is going to be a lot of families. If you live in the neighborhood, it's a good option for supersentos. It's also quite easy to get to by bus from Nankai Sakai station (south bus stop).
It seems that the ganbanyoku/relaxation area (extra fee) is quite popular with the customers as is the buffet.Interestingly enough they also had pamphlets including bathing instructions in English, Korean, and Chinese. I didn't see any other foreigners during my time there and was quite surprised to see information in any language other than Japanese.
Weekends and holidays the baths are open all night for an extra fee and they offer overnight capsule rooms throughout the week.
Hot Spring DataWell Name: Sakaihama Rakuten Onsen - 堺浜楽天温泉Type: Simple Alkaline Hot Spring - アルカリ性単純泉
Spa Refre
Spa Refre
Japanese Name: スパ・リフレPrefecture: OsakaCity: SakaiAddress: 大阪府堺市南区美木多上９０３−６Access: Senboku Line Komyoike Station / 泉北線光明池駅 Category: Supersento w/ natural hot springWebpage: http://spa-refre.com/Price: ¥700Holiday: NoneNoneHours: 10:00-25:00Review:Interesting larger, older supersento built in the same complex as a golf driving range. The feel here is very gym like and there were way too many washing stations then could ever be needed here. Happy to enjoy the super hot sauna and somewhat rare walking bath. This bath had one of the most powerful jet baths I have ever experienced. It just went to town on my shoulders. I was not surprised to 1, see a sign saying it was impolite to hog the jet bats and 2, see a guy waiting for it as I got out. Outside and inside are two normal temperature natural hot spring baths filled with reddish brown water. There is a real deal hot spring here that you can see, feel, smell and taste. Like Arima or Yu no Karo in Amagasaki, this had a similar wet clay feel to the water. Outside is also a steam sauna that had a salty feel to it, I felt like being in the ocean in there. Amazing place kind of in the middle of nowhere if you do not live in the area. We used a car, but there is service here via Nankai bus from Komyoike Station.
Visit Date: March 2020 *Hot Spring Data*Spring Type: Chloride spring - 塩化物泉Well Temperature: 30.4°CTemperature Type: Warm spring - 低温泉pH: 6.99pH Type: Neutral - 中性Osmotic Pressure: High - 高張性Well Name: Izumi Natural Hot Spring Komyo no Yu - イズミ天然温泉 光明の湯
Visit Date: March 2020 *Hot Spring Data*Spring Type: Chloride spring - 塩化物泉Well Temperature: 30.4°CTemperature Type: Warm spring - 低温泉pH: 6.99pH Type: Neutral - 中性Osmotic Pressure: High - 高張性Well Name: Izumi Natural Hot Spring Komyo no Yu - イズミ天然温泉 光明の湯
Taiyo Onsen
Taiyo Onsen
Japanese Name: 太陽温泉Prefecture: OsakaCity: SakaiAddress: 大阪府堺市堺区中向陽町１−１−３２Closest Station: SakaiHigashi Station / 堺東駅Category: SentoPrice: Osaka Prefecture Public Bathhouse Association price or cheaper (sauna, if available, may be extra)Holiday: MondayHours: 15:00-23:30
Review:Very small but clean and friendly sento. There were a few boys having fun and playing in the baths while I was there. One of the only sento near to Sakai Higashi station. Good cold water bath.
Visit Date: January 2018
Review:Very small but clean and friendly sento. There were a few boys having fun and playing in the baths while I was there. One of the only sento near to Sakai Higashi station. Good cold water bath.
Visit Date: January 2018
Tokiwa Onsen
Tokiwa Onsen
Japanese Name: トキワ温泉Prefecture: OsakaCity: SakaiAddress: 大阪府堺市堺区神明町西３丁１−２９Access: Shinmeicho Station / 神明町駅Type: Sento w/ natural hot springWebpage: https://tokiwaonsen.jimdofree.com/Price: Osaka Prefecture Public Bathhouse Association price or cheaper (sauna, if available, may be extra)Holiday: FridayHours: 15:00-24:00
ReviewOpening the door to the bathing area the smell just hit me. Wow, this is exactly the kind of place that I love. A great old sento that looks like it's been here for years, filled with local history and just enough dust. The water was decent, but it was straight from the ground. No heating, cooling or mixing with municipal water. That's what this place is: a hot spring fed into a few baths. The smell was nice and the feel was good. Not the best water, but worth going back.
The design is quite simple, but classic for a little sento like this one. It looks to me that the jet baths were added on in a remodel, but I could be wrong about that. The center bath has a two level design with the upper bath being hotter and shallower. The cold bath is small, but enough space for one to sit in. Sitting at the fountain to rinse off was very refreshing. The sauna is accessed from the changing room. Not much to it, but good enough.The whole place is super small in comparison to most sento in the Kansai area. The reason for this place being here is the hot spring--that's it, but that's all that it needs. The main bath is well built and full of good places to sit. There's a nice mosaic of Mt. Fuji on the back wall and the mirrors have old advertisements for nearby businesses. The men's bathroom is outside in an enclosed patio that is accessed from the changing room. There's a little sitting area there with an ashtray that in the summer would be a great place for a nice post bath smoke.
This old building has a very utilitarian feel to it. Lots of old exposed wood and notices written on old yellowed sheets of paper. The customers all seemed part of the same large family that have been coming here for years many of them greeting each other when they came and left. I loved how busy the place was and all of the buckets filled with soap and shampoo placed around the bathing area. The entire place had a sense of agelessness that really made the entire experience special.
Getting here you can ride the great Hankai streetcar line which, like this sento, has a living history feel. Tokiwa Onsen is a perfect place to really experience what day-to-day life in postwar Japan might have looked like.Every time I go here I get into a conversation with someone. It is not the place were you will be able to have a quiet soak, but it will be an enjoyable one.
Hot Spring DataWell Name: Tokiwa Onsen - トキワ温泉Type: Simple hot spring - 単純温泉Type: Weak alkaline - 弱アリカリ性Well Temperature: 44.5℃Type: Warm spring - 低温線Osmotic Pressure: Low - 低張性
ReviewOpening the door to the bathing area the smell just hit me. Wow, this is exactly the kind of place that I love. A great old sento that looks like it's been here for years, filled with local history and just enough dust. The water was decent, but it was straight from the ground. No heating, cooling or mixing with municipal water. That's what this place is: a hot spring fed into a few baths. The smell was nice and the feel was good. Not the best water, but worth going back.
The design is quite simple, but classic for a little sento like this one. It looks to me that the jet baths were added on in a remodel, but I could be wrong about that. The center bath has a two level design with the upper bath being hotter and shallower. The cold bath is small, but enough space for one to sit in. Sitting at the fountain to rinse off was very refreshing. The sauna is accessed from the changing room. Not much to it, but good enough.The whole place is super small in comparison to most sento in the Kansai area. The reason for this place being here is the hot spring--that's it, but that's all that it needs. The main bath is well built and full of good places to sit. There's a nice mosaic of Mt. Fuji on the back wall and the mirrors have old advertisements for nearby businesses. The men's bathroom is outside in an enclosed patio that is accessed from the changing room. There's a little sitting area there with an ashtray that in the summer would be a great place for a nice post bath smoke.
This old building has a very utilitarian feel to it. Lots of old exposed wood and notices written on old yellowed sheets of paper. The customers all seemed part of the same large family that have been coming here for years many of them greeting each other when they came and left. I loved how busy the place was and all of the buckets filled with soap and shampoo placed around the bathing area. The entire place had a sense of agelessness that really made the entire experience special.
Getting here you can ride the great Hankai streetcar line which, like this sento, has a living history feel. Tokiwa Onsen is a perfect place to really experience what day-to-day life in postwar Japan might have looked like.Every time I go here I get into a conversation with someone. It is not the place were you will be able to have a quiet soak, but it will be an enjoyable one.
Hot Spring DataWell Name: Tokiwa Onsen - トキワ温泉Type: Simple hot spring - 単純温泉Type: Weak alkaline - 弱アリカリ性Well Temperature: 44.5℃Type: Warm spring - 低温線Osmotic Pressure: Low - 低張性
[CLOSED] Senjyu no Yu
[CLOSED] Senjyu no Yu
Japanese Name: 千寿の湯Prefecture: OsakaCity: SakaiAddress: 堺市東区日置荘西町1丁18番8Access: Hatsushiba Station / 初芝駅Type: Supersento w/ natural hot springWebpage: http://senju-yu.com/Price: ¥650Holiday: NoneHours: 10:00-25:00
Walked by here after visiting Hatsushiba Onsen (review above) in Spring 2022. This place is very closed.
ReviewSenjyu no Yu is located only a few minutes from Hatsushiba station. While they don't have a spring on the premises, they do tank spring water in from Kameyama city in Mie prefecture twice a week according to one website. Of course being a tanked in onsen that means the water is recycled and treated rather than being a constant fresh stream. I went here many years ago and remember it being a good basic supersento. One unique addition was the blow dry room which only kind of worked.
Hot Spring DataWell Name: Turtle Onsen - タートル温泉Type: Bicarbonate spring - 炭酸水素塩泉Well Temperature: 29.8°C
Walked by here after visiting Hatsushiba Onsen (review above) in Spring 2022. This place is very closed.
ReviewSenjyu no Yu is located only a few minutes from Hatsushiba station. While they don't have a spring on the premises, they do tank spring water in from Kameyama city in Mie prefecture twice a week according to one website. Of course being a tanked in onsen that means the water is recycled and treated rather than being a constant fresh stream. I went here many years ago and remember it being a good basic supersento. One unique addition was the blow dry room which only kind of worked.
Hot Spring DataWell Name: Turtle Onsen - タートル温泉Type: Bicarbonate spring - 炭酸水素塩泉Well Temperature: 29.8°C
[CLOSED] Yu~Bath Sakai Hamadera
[CLOSED] Yu~Bath Sakai Hamadera
Japanese Name: ユ〜バス堺浜寺店Prefecture: OsakaCity: SakaiAddress: 大阪府堺市西区浜寺船尾町東１丁１０８番Type: Supersento w/ natural hot springWebpage: http://www.yu-bath.com/s-bath/index.html
Review*Closed* The spring water was quite nice and obviously from a real well, but it was only one bath. The normal indoor baths were nice, but the "Royal" baths all felt dirty. There was a lot of diversity in the baths, but they all felt dirty, the rotenburo especially. The salt sauna had a very strong unpleasant smell and the dry sauna, while nice and hot, was dirty and had holes in the walls. If you super-sized a typical sento and fill it with dirty truck drivers you'd get this place. The design in the normal bath area was stoic, while the "Royal" area had a bit more thought given to the design--but not much and it was pretty ostentatious anyhow. The rotenburo was all white in a Greco-Roman theme. The palm tree out there was half-dead with fake palms attached to the trunk. It felt like a love hotel. The indoor spring water bath had a rocky theme with a geometric waterfall which I did enjoy however. Located next to a freeway onramp, a few love hotels, chain restaurants, this was the most truck stop-like of all the supersento I've been to. The staff was pleasant and the costumers all seemed to mind their own business and not interact much with each other. The beer I had tasted rancid.I feel bad saying this, but I really didn't enjoy my time here. The other Yu~Bath supersentos have a much better atmosphere.The men's and women's sides at this supersento are different. They change each week. I went to the right hand side bath, closest to the door.Recently Yu~Bath has been promoting this bath, so maybe they have cleaned it up a bit. I do want to give it another try.
Hot Spring DataWell Name: Sakai Rikyu no Yu - 堺利休の湯Type: Chloride spring - 塩化物泉Type: Neutral - 中性Well Temperature: 51.2°CType: Extra hot spring - 高温泉Osmotic Pressure: Low - 低張性
Review*Closed* The spring water was quite nice and obviously from a real well, but it was only one bath. The normal indoor baths were nice, but the "Royal" baths all felt dirty. There was a lot of diversity in the baths, but they all felt dirty, the rotenburo especially. The salt sauna had a very strong unpleasant smell and the dry sauna, while nice and hot, was dirty and had holes in the walls. If you super-sized a typical sento and fill it with dirty truck drivers you'd get this place. The design in the normal bath area was stoic, while the "Royal" area had a bit more thought given to the design--but not much and it was pretty ostentatious anyhow. The rotenburo was all white in a Greco-Roman theme. The palm tree out there was half-dead with fake palms attached to the trunk. It felt like a love hotel. The indoor spring water bath had a rocky theme with a geometric waterfall which I did enjoy however. Located next to a freeway onramp, a few love hotels, chain restaurants, this was the most truck stop-like of all the supersento I've been to. The staff was pleasant and the costumers all seemed to mind their own business and not interact much with each other. The beer I had tasted rancid.I feel bad saying this, but I really didn't enjoy my time here. The other Yu~Bath supersentos have a much better atmosphere.The men's and women's sides at this supersento are different. They change each week. I went to the right hand side bath, closest to the door.Recently Yu~Bath has been promoting this bath, so maybe they have cleaned it up a bit. I do want to give it another try.
Hot Spring DataWell Name: Sakai Rikyu no Yu - 堺利休の湯Type: Chloride spring - 塩化物泉Type: Neutral - 中性Well Temperature: 51.2°CType: Extra hot spring - 高温泉Osmotic Pressure: Low - 低張性