Otsu City - 大津市
Fukui-yu
Fukui-yu
Japanese Name: 福井湯Prefecture: ShigaCity: OtsuAddress: 〒520-0837 滋賀県大津市中庄１丁目７−２４Access: 5min from Kawaragahama Keihan Station / 京阪 瓦ヶ浜駅Category: SentoWebpage: https://www.city.otsu.lg.jp/soshiki/021/1441/g/se_eisei/se/pb/1386988182273.htmlPrice: Shiga Prefecture Public Bathhouse Association price or cheaper (sauna, if available, may be extra)Holiday: WednesdayHours: 16:00-22:00
Review: The really simple design of the sento is here. Some bathtubs have a sandy concrete-like coating that feels like a North American pool or spa. That coating and the design of the baths give off a somewhat industrial feel which matches the industrial neighborhood surrounding this sento. This is a strong sento. The jets shoot out hard, and the baths are extra hot at 43℃. I really liked how the jets interact with the flow from the deep central bath. Seeing how the water interacts was somewhat mesmerizing. The bubble bath was treated mildly with yomogi when I was there, and I loved it. Like most Kyoto sento, the baths here also have cold water faucets installed. There's a top-notch cold-water bath and cold shower for cooling off to round everything out.
The popular sauna is only ¥70 extra.
The local guys here are clean and very well-mannered, but they are by no means dainty. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed seeing their style.
And the owner has a cute dog sitting with him at the entrance.
Good place.
Visit Date: April 2022
Review: The really simple design of the sento is here. Some bathtubs have a sandy concrete-like coating that feels like a North American pool or spa. That coating and the design of the baths give off a somewhat industrial feel which matches the industrial neighborhood surrounding this sento. This is a strong sento. The jets shoot out hard, and the baths are extra hot at 43℃. I really liked how the jets interact with the flow from the deep central bath. Seeing how the water interacts was somewhat mesmerizing. The bubble bath was treated mildly with yomogi when I was there, and I loved it. Like most Kyoto sento, the baths here also have cold water faucets installed. There's a top-notch cold-water bath and cold shower for cooling off to round everything out.
The popular sauna is only ¥70 extra.
The local guys here are clean and very well-mannered, but they are by no means dainty. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed seeing their style.
And the owner has a cute dog sitting with him at the entrance.
Good place.
Visit Date: April 2022
Hira Topia
Hira Topia
Japanese Name: 比良とぴあPrefecture: ShigaCity: OtsuAddress: 滋賀県大津市中央３丁目６－４Access: Hira Station / 比良駅Type: Hot Spring FacilityWebpage: http://www.hiratopia.com/Price: ¥610Holiday: New Years (年末年始)Hours: 10:00-21:00
ReviewBeautiful little day use hot spring on the foothills of a mountain. There’s even a “mallet golf” course here. The spring was surprisingly good with the only downfall being the small, awkwardly shaped bath with the straight from the well 28.7c water. I walked here from OhmiMaiko Station after taking a swim in Lake Biwa. It was a nice walk and didn't take too long. There is a free bus from Hira Station however that I used on my way back home. See website for details.
ReviewBeautiful little day use hot spring on the foothills of a mountain. There’s even a “mallet golf” course here. The spring was surprisingly good with the only downfall being the small, awkwardly shaped bath with the straight from the well 28.7c water. I walked here from OhmiMaiko Station after taking a swim in Lake Biwa. It was a nice walk and didn't take too long. There is a free bus from Hira Station however that I used on my way back home. See website for details.
Kagura-yu
Kagura-yu
Japanese Name: 神楽湯Prefecture: ShigaCity: OtsuAddress: 滋賀県大津市中央３丁目６－４Access: Shimanoseki Station / 島ノ関駅Category: SentoWebpage: https://www.city.otsu.lg.jp/kenko/kenko/se_eisei/1387788077827.htmlPrice: Shiga Prefecture Public Bathhouse Association price or cheaper (sauna, if available, may be extra)Holiday: FridayHours: 16:30-22:00 (Sunday, Holidays: 16:00-22:00)
ReviewSmall basic sento somewhat close to JR Otsu station. Good to know if you are in the area and looking for a bath.
ReviewSmall basic sento somewhat close to JR Otsu station. Good to know if you are in the area and looking for a bath.
Miyako-yu
Miyako-yu
Japanese Name: 都湯Prefecture: ShigaCity: OtsuAddress: 〒520-0802 滋賀県大津市馬場３丁目１２−２１Access: 10min from JR West Zeze or Keihan Zeze stations / JR西日本 膳所駅・京阪膳駅Category: SentoWebpage: http://miyakoyu.jp/Price: Shiga Prefecture Public Bathhouse Association price or cheaper (sauna, if available, may be extra)Holiday: ThursdayHours: 14:00-24:00
Review: Wow! This place is small, but what it offers is perfect! Sauna, deep, electric, jets, and cold-water all cramped into the size of a 1-room apartment. Baths are filled with some top-notch well water, and you can tell the quality. In particular, the cold-water bath is on point. The current owner is a young guy who bought the place and saved it from destruction. Lots of hipster cool here but still popular with the grandpas. There's even a funny manga about this sento set in an alternative universe with cats. Great bath and great to see the culture continuing. Highly recommended! Check it out!
Visit Date: April 2022
Review: Wow! This place is small, but what it offers is perfect! Sauna, deep, electric, jets, and cold-water all cramped into the size of a 1-room apartment. Baths are filled with some top-notch well water, and you can tell the quality. In particular, the cold-water bath is on point. The current owner is a young guy who bought the place and saved it from destruction. Lots of hipster cool here but still popular with the grandpas. There's even a funny manga about this sento set in an alternative universe with cats. Great bath and great to see the culture continuing. Highly recommended! Check it out!
Visit Date: April 2022
Ohmi-yu
Ohmi-yu
Japanese Name: 近江湯Prefecture: ShigaCity: OtsuAddress: 滋賀県大津市錦織３丁目１２−２３Closest Station: Otsukyo Station / 大津京駅Category: SentoWebpage: https://www.city.otsu.lg.jp/kenko/kenko/se_eisei/1387788077827.htmlPrice: Shiga Prefecture Public Bathhouse Association price or cheaper (sauna, if available, may be extra)Holiday: Monday Hours: 15:30-22:00
Review:Very basic sento with a living artifact feel. Glass door lockers with wicker baskets. Strong local following it seemed. My daughter (8 years old at the time) was able to go in by herself with no problems so that is a big bonus. Not too far from Otsukyo Station. Visit Date: January 2019
Review:Very basic sento with a living artifact feel. Glass door lockers with wicker baskets. Strong local following it seemed. My daughter (8 years old at the time) was able to go in by herself with no problems so that is a big bonus. Not too far from Otsukyo Station. Visit Date: January 2019
Utopia Kirishima
Utopia Kirishima
Japanese Name: 湯〜トピアきりしまPrefecture: ShigaCity: OtsuAddress: 〒520-0043 滋賀県大津市中央１丁目７−２６Access: 5 min from Keihan BiwakoHamaotsu Station or 15 min from JR Otsu Station / 京阪 びわ湖浜大津駅, JR大津駅Category: SentoWebpage: https://www.city.otsu.lg.jp/kenko/kenko/se_eisei/1387788077827.htmlPrice: Prefectural Public Bathhouse Association price or cheaper (sauna, if available, may be extra)Holiday: MondayHours: 15:30-22:30
Review:Lovely sento very close to Keihan Biwako Hamaotsu and not too far away from JR Otsu. This is a small but surprising place. There is a top notch cold water bath, a quasi-outdoor bath that is medicated and, oddly enough, an extra hot bath. Recommended for the quality and selection of the baths but also for the ideal location.Visit Date: September 2020
Review:Lovely sento very close to Keihan Biwako Hamaotsu and not too far away from JR Otsu. This is a small but surprising place. There is a top notch cold water bath, a quasi-outdoor bath that is medicated and, oddly enough, an extra hot bath. Recommended for the quality and selection of the baths but also for the ideal location.Visit Date: September 2020
Yoki-yu
Yoki-yu
Japanese Name: 容輝湯Prefecture: ShigaCity: OtsuAddress: 滋賀県大津市栄町１７−１０Closest Station: Ishiyama Station / 石山駅Category: SentoWebpage: https://mobile.twitter.com/youkiyu_1126 - https://www.city.otsu.lg.jp/kenko/kenko/se_eisei/1387788077827.htmlPrice: Shiga Prefecture Public Bathhouse Association price or cheaper (sauna, if available, may be extra)Holiday: TuesdayHours: 15:00-24:00
Review:Just looking at the facade of this sento you should know something is special. Inside this sento is one or the cleanest examples of a sento of this age still in existence. There has been some remodeling but the main parts are still there and they look unchanged. 4 baths along the dividing wall... Jet, deep, shallow and medicated. Today the grapefruit and lemongrass was for body aches after sports so after our 18km hike today it felt great. Yes, I would have liked a cold water bath, but a few buckets of cold water from the spout was more than sufficient.Overall, this is a great classic sento in amazing condition and worth going out of your way to check it out.Visit Date: April 2019
Review:Just looking at the facade of this sento you should know something is special. Inside this sento is one or the cleanest examples of a sento of this age still in existence. There has been some remodeling but the main parts are still there and they look unchanged. 4 baths along the dividing wall... Jet, deep, shallow and medicated. Today the grapefruit and lemongrass was for body aches after sports so after our 18km hike today it felt great. Yes, I would have liked a cold water bath, but a few buckets of cold water from the spout was more than sufficient.Overall, this is a great classic sento in amazing condition and worth going out of your way to check it out.Visit Date: April 2019