Hotaru - Yamae Onsen

I was only here briefly but I really enjoyed the onsen here. 450 yen for aday bath ticket for an adult. The kiosk to buy the ticket is on the right after you enter and a little further on the right is a room where you can place your shoes, since you have to take them off at the entrance. Towels are not provided so don’t forget to bring your own, but body soap and shampoo are provided.
There is a dry sauna and a steam sauna, and there are foam mats/squares for you to use when you want to sit in the saunas or on any of the benches inside or outside. There are many showers for cleaning up first and you can set it to fill a bowl with water or use a shower head. There is a cold bath and I found it to be VERY cold. It was great to use to cool my head but was too cold to get into or pour onto the rest of my body.
The outdoor bath is a nice temperature but you can’t see much besides the fence and the tree branches, but there are benches where you can sit and relax outside of the water. Inside are a few bath slots where you can enjoy a bubble massage for your body while lying down with your head out of the water, along with a couple of more traditional baths.
There are free cubbyholes with baskets to store your clothes but there are also 10 yen lockers you can use, but don’t forget to bring your own towel. There is an electronic scale where you can check your weight in the dressing room, as well as a fan to help you dry off.

I heard of this place as a recommendation and it seems to be really popular with the locals as it was busy, even in the early afternoon. I could really feel the effects on my skin afterwards so I was really happy with the wide variety of baths and the effects of the water. It’s a bit of a drive for me to get there but I think I will visit this onsen often from now on.

This little hotspring hotel is amazing. We took the room that has private bath that comes with a huge little garden. The water is not too hot, but is of very good quality. The room is reasonably sized but not too big. It's very efficient though, with all of the needed elements. It's a very enjoyable overall experience!

My husband and I stayed here for one night for the first time in a while. Due to the small number of rooms, we were able to spend a relaxing time away from the hustle and bustle of daily life.
Family baths and hot springs with a wide variety of baths are recommended as they will make your skin soft and smooth.
The public bath is only available to guests staying early in the morning, so you can have the large bath all to yourself.
Also, the chestnut rice for dinner was very delicious as the large chestnuts made the whole rice sweet. The sweetfish didn't have any smell and I was very satisfied.
As for the price, you can stay overnight during the holidays for just a few thousand yen more than the regular price, so it's a great deal.
I would like to stay there again if I have the chance, and it was a recommended inn for a relaxing stay.

📆2024-January
Natsume's Book of Friends✖️Hitoyoshi/Kumayu Tour Festival Stamp Rally
A long time ago, only my husband went in, and this was my first time taking a bath.
It was crowded with bathers as it was evening 😅
The facilities were very complete with 12 hot spring facilities.
Next time, I plan to visit the hot springs slowly during bright hours.
On the way home, I bought some local products at the store🎵

🍀 Sodium-hydrogen carbonate spring (hypotonic, slightly alkaline, high temperature spring)