Someone asked me the other day what it is about onsens that I love so much. I thought about it, and said “I can’t think of a place where it’s possible to do any less for 7 hours”
So, having said that, I’m gonna dispense with all the narrative bullshit and just tell you that Ururi Onsen fucking rules.
First, it’s the hills of Sagamiko in Kanagawa, amongst the Sagamiko Pleasure Resort. One of the 2 rotenburos has a very nice seating arrangement that allows one to look up at the mountains and through the valley. It’s a pretty sweet view. On this clear day with cirrus clouds of that very ephemeral nature, I was in flavour country. Although when I was here with Sexy Boy, he may have suggested that the mineral qualities in the water may have been artificially added. Controversial.
Second, the neruyu/neyu/nekorobi is under its own shelter and is thus like a hut filled with puddles. They are about 7 or so ‘puddles here’ which are noticeably deeper than usual (they are about around 2 inches deep). Outside the neyu there are also classic Oriental some wide brimmed hats in case you’re going to get your sunbake on.
Third, they have awesome deck chairs and bath side recliners. The first time I went here anyone that sat on these would lay on these backwards, so that they were lying down with their legs in the air. What a bunch of pros.
Fourth, the sauna kinda sucks. The room’s too big and the oven’s not powerful enough. Oh well.
Fifth, the mizuboru has a chair formed into its side. That’s amore right there.
Sixth, their jacuzi jets are pretty powerful. Good for a sore man’s quads.
Seventh, the restaurant is pretty solid and they have pretty decent stout beer. I smashed a few of these last time in between soaks. To boot, they have wifi.
Eighth, even though I am not a ganbanyoku man, I have done it twice here. Falling asleep in a 50 degree room and sweating into some form of pyjamas is not mormally my kind of bag, but, hey, there you go….. oh, and the sleeping rooms look amazing. But I have not tried them….yet.
Ninth… I did not know this at the time, but during winter the Sagamiko illumination/lighting used the most LED lights of all the Kanto region illuminations. Hence the ridiculous traffic coming up the hill on the way home at night.
Tenth, this place seems to attract a lot of kids with their fathers. As I may have mentioned before. it’s a pretty funny sight seeing the little ones trip balls when they first walk in to the sauna exclaiming “It’s hot! It’s hot! It’s hot!” or freaking out when they step into the mizuburo. Although there was one 10 year old chappy that thought he could stay longer in the plunge pool than me. Fair credit…. he stayed a lot longer than most. What a champ.
Let’s check the ol’ board:
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THE SCOREBOARD OF SENTO SUCCULENCE: |
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| Features: | 2 rotenburo, 2 ofuro, 5 massage jets, sauna, neyu nut, outdoor furniture, mizuburo, ganbanyoku, restaurant, sleeping rooms |
| Bath Heat/10 | 8 (41) |
| Sauna heat/10 | 6 (felt like about 70) |
| Spatial aesthetic/5 | 5 (interior 3) |
| Quality of Chit chat/5 | 5 (I didn’t want any….. i really should remove this criteria) |
| Variety of bath types/10 | 8 (The ofuro were pretty basic, but the neyu, rotenburo and jets make up for this) |
| Quality of rotenburo /10 | 9 |
| Mizuburo/10 | 8 |
| Lighting /10 | 7 |
| Cost to value /5 | 4 (1000 yen, extra 200 for ganbanyoko, and extra 300 for more clothes.) |
| Accessibility /5 | 3 (because the journey is kind of part of the point, and final bus is very often) |
| Little extras /10 | 8. That restaurant has a balcony, but could be better. The sleeping rooms are dark as hell. They have wifi. That’s a biggy if you;re feeling all ‘netty’ and what not in between soaks. I haven’t even checked out the other stuff at the resort (ferris wheel and rides, garden area) but I’m sure it’s great. In fact, hiking up the hill here past the lake could also be an option and would probably take 1-1.5 hours. |
| Overall feeling /10 | 9 |
| OVERALL PROXIMITY TO BOILING POINT/100 | 80 |
November 22, 2014
bastubennett
sweatshopping 