Hot spring spa - Wakayama

2007/02/24 - 2007/02/25

It takes 2 hours from Kansai int'l airport to Wakayama. Car & train can bring you there, but car is better to visit countryside because many spa locate in countryside.
Wakayama has many traditional spa in it.
It was easy for me to go there from Osaka.
My itinerary was within 2 days, Saturday & Sunday, but having spa was the best way to remove the stress or fatigue.

エリア 熊野本宮・湯の峰温泉(和歌山)

At first, visiting Kawayu Spa, 2-3 hours drive from Wakayama city via Shirahama which is also known for spa. It was in nature and smells of sulfur.
Hot water comes from the bottom. It seems having plenty of matter which consists spa.

This is "Sennin Buro", means immortal's spa and 1,000 people can have spa at once (Sennin, 仙人 & 千人 have same pronunciation. Regarding 1,000 people, it seems a joke). It appears only in winter season, and the gate closes at night. The admission is free.
This place is also awesome in summer. You can find spa after you dig.
Because the big bath is available only in winter, you have to dig in summer.

People seemed so relaxed in it. You must wear swimwear when you take.

Kawayu Onsen town. It has some tiny inns, also has cheaper ones.

We stayed at Yunomine Onsen near Kawayu. Town smells of sulfur, and the smell is similar with Kusatsu Onsen, one of the most famous spa in Japan.

Natural boiling water comes out. The temperature is always 92 degrees centigrade, it locates in the center of this town. You can cook boiled eggs, putting the raw eggs in it and keeping them for 20 mins. The cooks in inn can cook cuisine without gas and they do so.

This place had tradition, known from almost 1000 years ago. It was a gift from nature for citizen in this town. Somebody cooked pouched curry, ha ha...

"Tsuboyu", a sign said this is the oldest bath in Japan. It also said the water changes colour 7 times in a day. Hot water comes from the bottom.

Outside of "Tsuboyu".