Tamagawa Onsen (Saitama)

The Tamagawa Onsen in Saitama Prefecture is a public bath that recreates the nostalgic atmosphere of the Showa period (1926-1989). By using retro design and historical props, it transports you back in time to an older era. There is even a store that sells goods that used to be popular during this period, such as a colorful variety of Japanese cider. Other amenities within the bath house include a Japanese restaurant, free to use massage chairs and a reading room. The natural hot spring used in the baths is strongly alkalic (pH 10.1) and is pumped up from 1700m below the earth. They are said to provide many health benefits, including contributing to beautiful skin and helping with various stress-induced conditions. There are two main baths that rotate between men and women. The Akira no Yu features an outdoor bath that allows you to relax within a natural, rural scenery. The Nagomi no Yu, on the other hand, features the old-fashioned design of a downtown bathhouse with images of a red Mt. Fuji and a Showa-period townscape. Located in a small village not far from Tokyo, Tamagawa Onsen provides charm and relaxation if you ever feel like escaping the city.