| Shimosuwa, which used to be a hot spring post town on Nakasen and Koshu Highways, has been patronized by not only many travelers but writers and painters as well. It is a city of hospitality welcoming people from all over Japan. Shimosuwa boasts abundant natural hot water. 5,600 liters of hot water gush out every minute from 22 sources in the town and it is supplied not only to inns, hotels and public baths but also individual households. |  |
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Map of the public baths in Shimosuwa Town |
10 easily accessible public baths are open to everyone.. They are handy and casual. Please drop in at any of them while strolling in the town. | |
| ■Yusen House Koyu (遊泉ハウス児湯) This is the largest two -storied public bathhouse in the town. On the first floor are not only the usual large hot tub but also many other extra facilities, such as ◇ Utaseyu (打たせ湯) Hot water pouring onto your shoulders like a water fall. This gives you a relaxing effect like a massage ◇ Kaburiyu (かぶり湯) Clean hot spring water is reserved in a special tub. This finishing water is to cleanse your body after getting out of the public hot tub. ◇ Choonpa-jet-so (超音波ジェット槽: Supersonic wave Jacuzzi) We are sure all of these facilities are good enough to make you feel as if you were in a modern spa resort. On the second floor are a lounge and a gym with exercise equipment. The source of this hot spring is believed to have been gifted by Kanayaki Jizo (銕焼地蔵尊: Kanayaki guardian deity of children), which appears in a legend of Izumi Shikibu (a celebrated poet of the 11th in Japan ). This hot spring is said to make women even more beautiful and to bless them with a child. |
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| ■Tanganoyu (旦過の湯) is on Old Nakasen Highway and was originally built as a Tanga Ryo (旦過寮), which was an Inn for many priest pilgrims to Jiun Temple (慈雲寺) in the Kamakura Era. The natural properties of the hot spring water are said to heal wounds, so in old days many wounded samurai worriers visited the spring. In those days the inn also served a meeting place for travelers on the highway. |
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| ■Shinyu (新湯) is situated in the middle of the Mita-machi Dori (御田町通り: Mita-machi St）. "Shinyu" literally means "a new bath" because it was built much later (in 1927) than the other public bath facilities. The spring source offers slightly salty hot water of as high as 55℃〜63℃ in temperature. This hot spring is said to be effective against rheumatoid arthritis and neuralgia. |
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■Sugano Onsen (菅野温泉: Sugano Hot Spring) |
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