Hello! I’m Hitapapa and I love hot springs!
This time, we will introduce the family bath at Fujiya, located in Kawatana Onsen, Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture!
Fujiya was originally an inn, but closed in 2021 and has now been renovated into a day spa and restaurant.
The wall between the hot springs, which used to be the men’s and women’s baths during the inn’s days, has been removed to create one large family bath .
The bathroom is spacious and has two bathtubs, so you can enjoy two types of hot spring water: hot and lukewarm .
And as a hot spring lover, the best thing about Fujiya is that the hot springs are 100% natural, straight from the source !
Here’s a more detailed explanation of what a “100% natural hot spring” is:
are 100% natural, straight from the source.
- No water or heat added
- No circulation
- No chlorine disinfection
- The temperature is adjusted using two types of spring water, hot and lukewarm (not diluted with water).
- Fresh spring water is constantly poured into the baths, and the water is constantly replaced, making it hygienic and ensuring the hot spring water is extremely fresh.
If you compare a “100% natural hot spring directly from the source” with a “hot spring that has had water added, heated, circulated, and disinfected with chlorine” in the same hot spring area, the difference is immediately clear.
The hot spring water is fresh and rich, feels good on the skin, and you can feel your body and mind getting refreshed. It feels like you are immersed in a natural hot spring .
The owner of Fujiya is skilled in handicrafts and paper cuttings, and his handmade handicrafts and paper cuttings are also sold in the building.
Additionally, the second floor is a gallery, displaying many of the owner’s handmade papercuts.
The owner’s paper cuttings are definitely worth seeing!!
of “Fujiya”
- A spacious family bath is available at a reasonable price.
- The family bath can be used for a long time, up to 1.5 hours.
- You can enjoy high-quality, fresh hot spring water that is 100% straight from the source.
- The hot spring is lukewarm, so you can take your time and soak in it for a long time (this may be a disadvantage for people who like it hot).
- The facility is well-cleaned, with the interior, dressing rooms and baths all clean.
- Enjoy a free gallery of the owner’s “impressive paper cutting works”
Now, let’s introduce the family bath at Fujiya!
You can enjoy a family bath with 100% natural hot spring water.
Basic information about “Fujiya”
＜Fujiya＞
[Address] 5178 Kawatana, Toyoura-cho, Shimonoseki-shi, Yamaguchi Prefecture
[Opening hours]
[Hot spring] 11:00-15:00, 16:00-19:00
*Reservation required as there is only one family bath
[Dining] 11:30-14:30, 18:00-21:30
[Closed] Mondays, 4th Sunday
[Parking] Free parking for tourists
[Phone number] 083-772-0397
[Official website] https://www.instagram.com/fujiya.2022.0101/
Parking Map
Fujiya does not have its own parking lot, so you will need to park your car in the tourist parking lot at Kawatana Onsen.
Day trip hot spring fee
温泉は家族風呂１つのみだから、事前に電話予約が必要だよ！
There is only one family bath at the hot spring, so you need to make a reservation by phone in advance!
Dining Menu and Prices
This time, I took the train from JR Shimonoseki Station to Kawatana Onsen. The scenery from the train window on the way was so beautiful that before introducing “Fujiya”, I would like to briefly introduce the train journey to Kawatana Onsen.
The ocean is so beautiful (ﾟДﾟ)!!!
The sea is blue!!
It’s amazing how beautiful this sea is, even though it’s not that far from Shimonoseki city!!
The sea is so beautiful!
After leaving the sea, the mountains and rice fields are so relaxing!!!
This idyllic scenery is the best part of a hot spring train trip.
The green of the mountains and rice fields is beautiful.
Kawatana Onsen Station
We have arrived at Kawatana Onsen Station!
This is where we say goodbye to this cute red one-man train.
This one-man train has a very local feel and a great atmosphere!!
You can enjoy a tranquil view from the station platform.
The air is clean, nature is abundant and it’s a really pleasant place.
The view of the station platform has a nice atmosphere that makes you feel like you’re in a scene from a movie or teen drama!!
This is probably where people wait for trains with their loved ones or say sad goodbyes (in movies and TV dramas).
So emotional!! (Is that an old-fashioned way of saying it?) So emotional!!!
There is only one train per hour departing from Kawatana Onsen Station , so be sure to check the return timetable.
Also, Kawatana Onsen Station is an unmanned station and IC cards cannot be used .
Make sure to buy your tickets for both your trip and your journey before boarding the train .
By the way, I didn’t know that IC cards could not be used, so I just tapped my IC card at Shimonoseki Station and got on the train, but when I got off at Kawatana Onsen Station, I found that there was no IC card reader, so I asked the train driver what to do. (It’s a one-man train, so there is no conductor.)
Then they said, “Just pay the round-trip fare in cash at Shimonoseki Station on your way back.”
Just to be sure, I asked the driver, “Can I just declare that I got on at Kawatana Onsen Station?” and he replied, “Yes, you can declare that.” (laughs)
It’s loose!! And the looseness is what makes it so great!!
Yamaguchi Prefecture is the best!! Kawatana Onsen is the best!!
The nature is tranquil, but the people are tranquil tooーーーー😆😆
Kawatana Onsen Station is a very peaceful unmanned station.
Arrived at Kawatana Onsen!
We arrived at the hot spring town, located about 2km away from Kawatana Onsen Station!
I saved on taxi fare and walked about 2km, so it took about 30 minutes.
If you don’t have much time, don’t like walking, or are on a hot summer day, I definitely recommend taking a taxi from the station (lol).
By the way, on the way back I also walked from the hot spring town to the station (lol) I have a lot of free time on my hands!
If you are travelling by train, we recommend taking a taxi from the station.
The autumn leaves are so beautiful!!!
The exterior of “Fujiya”
Fujiya is located a little way down an alley from the center of the hot spring town.
The exterior remains the same as when it was a historic hot spring inn.
Even the shop’s signboard paper cutting was handmade by the owner himself!
Amazing!!
It’s located a little way down an alley from the center of the hot spring town.
The atmosphere inside “Fujiya”
1st floor lobby – interior
The atmosphere inside the building is like this.
It feels like the atmosphere of a historic hot spring inn has remained intact.
And it’s very clean and nice.
The owner’s handmade paper cuttings and handicrafts are on display and for sale inside the museum.
All of the owner’s works are meticulously crafted and well worth seeing.
The owner’s handmade items are also available for sale.
Hallway to the hot springs
From inside the building, you can walk along the outdoor corridor to get to the hot springs.
The courtyard is nicely maintained and there is a small space where you can rest after a bath.
There is only one family bath at the hot spring, and although there is no clear time limit, the owner told us to aim for up to an hour and a half.
Considering that there is only one family bath in such a large facility, an hour and a half is actually quite generous !!
It’s the best!!
There is only one family bath at the hot spring. You can use it for up to an hour and a half.
Dressing room
The changing rooms have been renovated and are very clean!!
The washbasin is also stylish!
Japanese-style cotton swabs are also available.
Hair dryer available.
A complimentary supply of chilled drinking water is provided.
The changing room is well equipped and very clean.
Let’s go to the hot springs!
There is only one family bath at the hot spring.
Originally, when it was an inn, there were separate baths for men and women, but the walls have been removed to combine them into one bathroom, so it’s quite spacious!
A family bath this size is quite impressive!
The bathroom is spacious and has two large bathtubs for your family to use.
Bathroom
The bathroom is quite spacious for a family bath!!
There are two bathtubs as they were originally intended for men and women.
The right side is a warm hot spring and the left side is a lukewarm hot spring .
Once you’ve warmed up in the hot spring on the right, you can then go into the lukewarm spring on the left, so you can alternate between baths.
I think small children don’t like hot springs, so it’s nice to have lukewarm hot springs available.
Originally it was a men’s and women’s bath, so there are two doors and two changing rooms.
One thing to note is that there are two changing rooms, so make sure you lock both rooms, otherwise it would be embarrassing if someone accidentally came in (lol).
Make sure to lock the changing rooms (entrances) in both rooms!
Washing area
There is a shower in the washing area, and body soap, shampoo, and conditioner are also provided.
Warm bathtub
This is the warm hot spring on the right.
It was November and the maximum temperature was around 15°C, so it wasn’t that cold, but the hot spring felt quite lukewarm.
The temperature of the spring water at Kawatana Onsen is not very high, at around 50°C, so it can get a little cold in the winter .
For someone like me who likes lukewarm water, this temperature was just right for me!!
I get hot easily and hot water makes me feel hot, but I like lukewarm water even in winter because I can take a long bath and relax.
The bathtub is large enough for 4-5 adults to enter.
The bathtub is lukewarm, so you can use it quite spaciously!!
Plenty of fresh spring water is poured in!!
The hot spring is on the left and the lukewarm spring is on the right, so the temperature is just right.
Since no water is used, the hot spring water is 100% concentrated from the source!!
The hot spring on the left is so hot that you can feel it when you touch it with your hand. It’s probably around 45 to 50 degrees Celsius.
The lukewarm water on the right is normally touchable. It’s probably around 20 degrees Celsius.
The spring water is almost tasteless and odorless, but has a faint, gentle hot spring scent .
The water is very soft and feels great on the skin !!
The water is 100% straight from the source, so it’s hygienic and the hot spring water is very fresh.
It feels like we are making full use of the blessings of nature .
It’s great to be able to relax and enjoy such a fresh and wonderful hot spring in a spacious family bath!!
What’s more, it can be used for up to an hour and a half!!
When I tasted it, it tasted a little salty. It was a very soft water even when I put it in my mouth.
(It is not for drinking, so taste it at your own risk! I don’t recommend it!)
It’s a 100% free-flowing hot spring, with temperature-adjusted hot and lukewarm springs.
Lukewarm bathtub
This is the lukewarm hot spring on the left.
It was November and the highest temperature was around 15°C, but it was more like a little cold than lukewarm.
It’s warm enough that it will be enjoyed by small children who don’t like hot springs.
Also, if your body gets too hot in the hot springs, you can use this lukewarm hot spring to cool down.
I used it in November, but the bath was quite lukewarm (a bit cold).
Gallery
The second floor of the building is a gallery where the owner’s handmade crafts and paper cuttings are on display.
The owner’s incredibly detailed works are well worth a look, so be sure to check out the gallery on the second floor after your bath.
This is a must-see for fans of the basketball manga “Slam Dunk” in particular ! Many of the owner’s Slam Dunk-related works are also on display!
On the second floor there is a gallery where the owner’s handmade works are on display.
Crafts and paper cutting
The owner’s handmade crafts and paper cuttings are all worth seeing.
These are all works that you’ll want to take your time to look at.
A variety of beautifully crafted works
Cafe space
This is the cafe space.
The cafe was not open on the day we visited, but it appears to be a space where visitors can relax and unwind whilst admiring the owner’s artwork.
A large paper cut-out that spans the entire wall.
Very impressive.
It’s an extremely delicately crafted piece.
The owner’s paper cuttings are very impressive!
“Slam Dunk” Gallery
A refined space
This room is an exhibition of Slam Dunk papercuts handmade by the owner.
It’s a space with an extremely refined atmosphere.
Characters and famous scenes from Slam Dunk are depicted in paper cutouts.
Although the works are not for sale, the owner received permission from the artist, Takehiko Inoue, to create and exhibit the Slam Dunk papercuts .
This means that these works are officially approved by Takehiko Inoue!!
Hanamichi Sakuragi’s dunk scene.
It looks like a painting, but if you look closely you can see that it is actually made from paper cuttings.
A famous scene that any Slam Dunk fan will recognize.
Although this now looks just like a painting, it is actually made entirely from paper cuttings.
The quality of the work is so high!! Amazing!!
This is a must-see gallery for the Slam Dunk generation! The world of Slam Dunk, created entirely from paper cuttings, is amazing!
Slam Dunk characters
The characters from Slam Dunk have been hand-cut by the owner.
The quality is so high that it is as if it were drawn by Takehiko Inoue with a pen.
Sakuragi Hanamichi.
Rukawa Kaede.
Takenori Akagi (Gori).
Mitsui Hisashi (Mitchy).
Ryota Miyagi.
All of the illustrations are cut out. They look as if the artist drew them by hand.
A scene from the Slam Dunk manga
A scene from Slam Dunk is beautifully cut out in a manga style.
The quality is so high that it’s almost as if Takehiko Inoue drew it with white pen on black paper.
A scene from the Slam Dunk manga is depicted in paper cutting!
Vagabond
Characters from the famous manga “Vagabond” by Takehiko Inoue are also on display!!
It’s so impressive that it’s hard to believe it’s a paper cutout.
The cut-outs of the characters in Vagabond are made to be incredibly realistic and are very impressive!
“Takase’s Kawara Soba” after a bath
After the bath, we went to Takase, a Kawatana Onsen specialty.
It is located about a 2-3 minute walk from “Fujiya”.
It is no exaggeration to say that this local gourmet dish, Kawara Soba, has the most visual appeal .
The dish is served on a thick, piping hot tile topped with green tea soba noodles, beef, golden egg, seaweed, green onions, lemon, and grated momiji leaf.
Enjoy it with flavorful broth!
These ingredients and the broth create a special harmony that is absolutely delicious !
The crispy green tea soba noodles baked on tiles are also delicious .
This is a local delicacy that you definitely want to try if you come to Kawatana Onsen.
I have written a detailed article about “Takase no Kawara Soba” in another article, so please read it if you are interested😆😆😆
If you come to Kawatana Onsen, try the “Takase no Kawara Soba”♪
———————————————-
Please come and try Fujiya’s hot springs at least once!
I hope the above information will be of some help to you when you go out!
See you next time!
Related Posts
にほんブログ村