Downtown Nagoya Hot Spring

This basement hot spring feels like it is outside

In the heart of Nagoya City is a hot spring that few people, even residents, know about. It is worth visiting if you are in the middle of Nagoya and need a relaxing break for 1,500 yen (about 10 US dollars at the time of writing). The onsen is in the basement of the Nagoya Crown Hotel in Fushimi. A fake waterfall lit up from above, and the strategic placement of shrubs cleverly gives the impression that the hot spring is on ground level. Despite being located downtown, the bath was pleasant enough for me to recommend to friends who reside in Nagoya. They all expressed satisfaction.


A unique and attractive part of the design of one of the bathing sections was the insertion of an aquarium into the wall between the dressing room and the bathing room. You can watch goldfish and other tropical fish while undressing and vice versa. It is strange but delightful. Do not worry about what the fish think; they won't gossip about your body.

The men's and women's sections are separated. On my first occasion, I entered the room described above, but on a recent trip, I was directed to the other room. This could have been more attractive. It lacked an aquarium and waterfall. However, the water quality was the same. Japanese hotels and ryokans often alternate the male and female bathing rooms.

The presence of various mineral elements means the water is brownish and feels smooth. The hotel provides a towel, soap, shampoo, combs, and everything you need to keep you clean and refreshed. Be sure to come before eleven if you want to have a slow, relaxing time. I was told that the baths would be closed for cleaning at noon. Two employees came in just a few minutes before twelve and started cleaning. Punctuality and cleanliness are virtues in Japan!

The hotel is a five-minute walk from the Fushimi Subway Station. A taxi from Nagoya Station will take about five minutes to drive you to the Nagoya Crown Hotel. The hotel's English webpage is http://www.nagoyacrown.co.jp/english/.

This bath is my favorite in downtown Nagoya. However, my favorite hot spring facility in all of Nagoya City is Ryusenji-no-yu (竜泉寺の湯), which has baths and special rooms where the heat rises from hot rocks on the floor. These special rooms are called Ganbanyoku (岩盤浴). The international airport in Nagoya also has a great bath. You can soak while watching planes land and depart, an unusual experience!  The largest bath facility within Nagoya is the aptly named Dainagoyaonsen (大名古屋温泉), which, translated into English, means large Nagoya hot spring.