My hotel has lots of amazing onsens (hot springs). I arrived today and have already hopped into the Kazenoyu, private outside bath.

It was steamy. The trick is to go into it slowly. Feet in, water over shoulders until you acclimatise otherwise its super duper freaking hot.

They give you 40mins private time, and I stayed water-bourne for about 20mins, before I was properly boiled.

Very beautiful, up a steep hill, semi great view. Blocked somewhat by the privacy screens (very important).

The coffee and vending machine area.

Dinner was at 6:00pm. It needs its own post so coming soon. Now, back to onsens.

The cave bath is public, so usually that means there are no photos. But crafty ol’ me went right after dinner. I was one of the first groups to have dinner and the first finished, so I motored on back to my room, got my things ready, and went to the ladies’ only public cave bath. Only to find I was the only one there. So I have snaps. Only the entrance because I wasn’t taking my phone into the water.

It’s a legit cave. They kept saying 30m or yards (I forget which) on the website, but its a twisty, turny style. I sketched up an overhead for your persual.

I was the only one in the cave, but it was all at once exciting, terrifying, and claustrophobic. I kept my glasses on so I could see. Which was very important because it is an uneven and slippery floor, not recommended for the elderly or unstable. I did a couple of laps of the cave (most is only knee deep), and I got all fogged up at the one deeper pool. Thought I saw daylight freaked out evacauated. Cleaned my glasses went back in, sat in the pool,(this onsen is a lot cooler than last one) freaked out again and bailed out just as people started to come out for baths. Got so fogged up at one point. I thought a smear on my glasses was a bogeyman and nearly had a caniption. Still very impressive.

Have to wait till tomorrow morning to do the Iwato outdoor bath, because that’s when it’s women only. Not going to bother with the indoor baths, I stuck my head in to the ladies on the way back and came across my first bather. I peeked in to see what the indoor bath looked like but wasn’t impressed enough. The schedule won’t allow for a private bath in the family bath Kajika (also indoors). Unless I wanna risk sharing, and I don’t.

After I had finished my bath rounds I went out to see the illumination. At a certain time of year Kurokawa onsens strings up lights over the river. I’ve been seeing them all day unlit and having seen them alight would say its worth it. Even with all the other hotel patrons out as well.

So there are all my attempts at night photography with a phone camera.

So far, I’m very impressed with my hotel, Shinmeikan. I’d recommend it. The staff have been very accommodating, speaking in English and I’ve had a very nice young woman looking after me, who has a bit of the giggles going on and she’s been doing her best to tell me things in reasonably ok english. She even manages sentences.