Shibu-no-yu

It is located in the heart of Kannawa and is a public bath.

Inside Shibu-no-yu

The other day, I visited Kannawa to go to a hot spring. Beppu, especially the Kannawa area, is famous for its hot springs, making it popular among tourists. Walking around Kannawa, we can see many types of hot springs, ranging from private, public, and family baths.

I visited Shibu-no-yu this time. It's located in the heart of Kannawa and is a public bath.

Surprisingly, it was free to use. And it's not the only place in Kannawa where you’ll find a similar business model.

The water temperature there is around 42 degrees Celsius. This kind of hot spring is called “Enka-bussen”, a reference to its high salt content. When I tried to taste the water, it tasted a little salty.

While I was there I also got to know many fellow onsen goers, which is what I love most about Japanese hot springs - the fact I can immerse myself in the soothing water and talk to local people at the same time.

As with any other hot spring, people would bathe for 10 to 15 minutes before washing their arms and legs with cold water. Apparently doing so three times can help alleviate cold sensitivity and heat illnesses. In fact, there is a word called “Touji” in Japanese, which means taking a bath in a hot spring to cure an illness. That is just one out of a myriad of reasons why hot spring baths are good for your health.

In the future, I’d like to make the most of my time here in the so-called Onsen Prefecture and visit as many hot springs and bath houses as I possibly can.