An insider tip that you won’t find in any travel guide.

There are many hidden hot springs in Japan that are mentioned in travel guides, which means that they end up not being so secret when tourists visit them. However, here at SoraNews24 we are all about revealing the real gems that are often only known to locals, and today we have one that is not only beautiful, but also affordable accommodation.

Called Jomon natural hot spring Shiraku no YuThis facility is located in Kawasaki City in the neighboring Kanagawa Prefecture of Tokyo, and it is only 30-40 minutes by train from Tokyo Station.

▼ The easiest way to get there is to get off at Yako Station, two stops behind JR Kawasaki Station, and then it’s a six-minute walk.

Outside the station there is a fairly lively area with restaurants, supermarkets and drugstores, but after a short walk the scene turns into a quiet residential area. Then suddenly a forest of trees comes into view and in the distance the entrance to the accommodation glows faintly, inviting you to enter another world.

This is the Kawasaki Lifelong Training Centera facility that accommodates guests for overnight training courses, seminars, meetings, social gatherings… and regular overnight stays.

The Shiraku no Yu hot spring is attached to this facility, so guests have unlimited access to it during their entire stay during opening hours. However, you must first check in at the front desk and pay the overnight fee, which starts at 5,850 yen (US$39.88) per night.

The high ceilings and art on the walls give the space a museum feel, although when we arrived after 10:30 p.m. it felt more like something out of Night at the Museum.

▼ At that time, no one was there, so in the dining room…

▼ … we could make ourselves a cup of tea without anyone watching.

According to the staff, the hot springs are open until 11:30 p.m., so we made sure to note where they were on the way to our room.

▼ 温泉 (“onsen” or “hot spring”) on the left, 客室 (“kyakushitsu” or “guest room”) on the right.

The hallway leading to our room was lined with paintings, and although there were many doors here, we couldn’t mistake ours because…

▼ …it was wide open and awaiting our arrival.

▼ The room was small but had everything we needed for a comfortable stay.

While toothbrushes aren’t provided (so you’ll need to bring one or buy one from reception), there was a yukata and a set of two towels on the bed, so after changing into the comfy outfit, it was time to head to the hot spring… and get a little lost along the way.

During the day we wouldn’t have thought twice about walking through the building like that, but at night it was really spooky. Not only was the lighting kept to a minimum to save energy, but there were insects hopping around the hallway, paintings looked like they were about to come to life at any moment, and there were even miniature dogs sitting on a bench.

▼ It was so eerie that we felt like we had been transported to an unknown world far away from the big city.

After walking through the quiet L-shaped corridor, we came to a slipper storage area and figured the hot spring must be just beyond.

The next place, however, turned out to be a large lounge area with comfortable chairs and plenty of paraphernalia that brought to life the Jomon period (ca. 14,000–300 BCE), from which the hot spring takes its name.

▼ This area also has a museum-like feel and the commitment to art is truly impressive.

Since it was late at night, one area was cordoned off with a curtain and it looked like it led to a dead end, but as we approached the sliding door, we could see in the distance…

▼ …an otter?

This looked like the door to a hidden entrance, and as the otter seemed to beckon us over to take a closer look, we stepped through and found a beautiful passageway.

▼ The floorboards creaked underfoot, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

Through the next door we entered the ground floor of the building, which exuded a much more inviting atmosphere with its bright shops, relaxation areas and snack corners.

However, it was still a long way to the hot spring, and the path led out of the building again.

▼ This time the outside corridor was wide, solidly built and comfortable to walk through, allowing us to take a look at the inner courtyard, which gave the whole thing an elegant touch.

After enjoying the night breeze, this hallway leads into the hot spring where more Jomon-related art objects await you.

▼ On the left is the women’s bathroom, on the right is the men’s bathroom.

The lockers in the changing rooms can be locked with a 100 yen coin, so if you want to keep your valuables safe, bring a coin. As with many hot springs, photography is not permitted in the bathing area, but official photos from the facility give a good idea of ​​what it looks like.

The bathroom is larger and more open than the photos suggest, and a surprising feature is the texture of the floor, which is not quite flat but rough and undulating, like a sandy beach. The surface feels good on the feet, as if it stimulates all the right pressure points, and with the wood and reed elements, it gives the place a prehistoric Jomon-esque vibe.

There are many washing stations and various baths, as well as a dry sauna that is invigorating after a dip in the cold tub. However, the most impressive baths in our opinion were the large indoor baths with a huge wooden column and windows…

▼ … and the open-air bath, which is surrounded by trees and gives the impression of a secret hot spring in the middle of the forest.

The tranquility of the outdoors combined with the sound and scenery of the hot springs is truly soothing. The floor of the outdoor bath is made of rugged rocks that create an uneven surface that takes you back to prehistoric times, and the water is “fossil seawater“, an ancient seawater trapped 1,300 meters (4,265 feet) underground. It has a high concentration of salt that warms your core and leaves your skin soft and supple.

The air seems somehow fresher here and you’ll forget that you’re actually in a bustling city. After a good, long bath, you’ll feel so relaxed that your only thought will be to fall into bed and fall asleep.

The bed was super comfortable and allowed for a restful night’s sleep. The next day we treated ourselves to another luxurious bath in the outdoor pool when it opened at 8:00 am.

Since you check out at 11:00 am, there is plenty of time to enjoy the baths before heading back out into the real world. It’s really surprising that such a retreat exists less than an hour from Tokyo. Although it’s easy to visit as part of a day trip, it’s worth staying overnight as you can enjoy the baths outside of regular business hours, late at night and early in the morning.

So next time you’re looking for a secret hot spring that isn’t on a World Heritage-listed island in the middle of nowhere, keep this place in mind – it’s one of numerous unusual accommodation finds hiding around the city.

Site information

Jomon Natural Hot Spring Shiraku no Yu / Kawasaki Lifelong Training Center
Address: Kanagawa-ken, Kawaski-shi, Saiwai-ku, Tsukagoe 4-314-1
神奈川県川崎市幸区塚越4-314-1
Website (thermal spring)
Website (Accommodation)

Related topics: Rakuten Travel
Photos ©SoraNews24
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