Joyful Yuraku Onsen 湯楽温泉

The joyful public open-air bath

The joy of bathing is expressed with these Japanese kanji, 湯楽, pronounced Yuraku. And Yuraku Onsen is the name of a delightful public hot spring facility in Kumamoto. This onsen is gensenkakenagashi (源泉かけ流し), meaning the thermal mineral water flows continuously from its underground source.  No substances are added, and the water is not recirculated. 

                       Bath connected to a private room

I noticed a slippery softness to the mineral water that flows naturally through the indoor and outdoor baths. The water texture left my skin smooth and supple. 

Despite being a small community bathing hangout, the designers created separate spaces for different baths, each with a unique atmosphere. 

One of the indoor baths

There is also a pleasing mist sauna, which helps people like me who suffer from hay fever. I walked into the changing room with congested nasal passages but exited the building able to breathe deeply and easily. What a relief!

The outdoor bath is surrounded by walls, and a simple wooden canopy several meters high hangs above about two-thirds of the spacious tub. The rest is open to the Kumamoto stars, clouds, and sun.

After heating myself in the hot bath, I decided to cool down and lie face upward on a bench by the bath. Staring upwards into the clouds, childhood memories came flooding into my thoughts. 

Rest on a bench and fantasize about clouds

If you are an older adult like me, you might recall staring at the sky, finding magical creatures in cloud formations, and sharing those discoveries with your childhood friends. But then, as you got older and focused on "the real world" to make a living, you stopped looking at clouds, and the power of your imagination declined. 

The combination of heat, coolness, and a drowsy, relaxed state brought me back to those days. I could have spent hours bathing, staring at drifting clouds, and exercising my long-forgotten imagination. It was a healing experience. I didn't want to leave. 

                                         Comfortable rock-lined indoor bath                                                                  

Yuraku Onsen is one of numerous hot spring facilities comprising the Aso Uchi no maki Onsen area, within the boundaries of Japan's magnificent Aso-Kuju National Park. If you want to experience nature and outdoor sports within Japan, this is one of the best places. Just before bathing, I tried tandem paragliding for the first time. It was a leap of faith and a jump off the edge of one of Earth's largest calderas. This park offers enriching physical and mental stimulation and deep relaxation. 

Jumping into space

Flying above the valley

Bathing and resting at Yuraku are a bargain. For 500 yen, or about US$ 4.50 at the time of writing, you can bathe, read manga, peruse magazines, or chat with staff and other visitors. Before departing, I enjoyed a friendly conversation about onsens across Japan with the reception worker and several guests.

If public bathing makes you uncomfortable, Yuraku offers the choice of kazokuyu (家族湯), which translates as family baths. Up to three adults and two children can enter a private bathing space for one hour. The admission fee is 2,300 yen, or US$16.20 at the exchange rate on the day I wrote this post.

Overnighting is also possible. Weekday rates are 12,000 yen for a couple, and weekends and holidays cost 14,000 yen, $84.72 for the former and $98.83 for the latter. This is an absolute bargain considering that unlimited soaking in private baths is included. 

Opening Hours 13:00-22:00 / Open daily except Tuesdays 

Address: Kumamoto Prefecture, Aso City, Uchimaki 1126-1

Telephone: 0967-24-6090

Other Wonderful Hot Springs within the Aso-Kuju National Park

A nearby onsen facility I also recommend is Aso Farm Land. 

Onsen (Hot Spring) Addict in Japan: Mixed Sex BathingーTo Wear Swimsuits or Be Naked: Suzume-no-yu Onsen in Kumamoto

 

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