Sanage Onsen, located at the foot of Mt. Sanage, which straddles the border between Toyota City and Seto City, is one of the few hot springs in Japan where natural radon hot spring water gushes forth with great efficacy. There is a single inn, Hotel Kinsenkaku, and a day spa, Kinsen-no-Yu (rockbed bath), both of which are attached to the inn.

"Iwaburo Kinsen no Yu" will be renewed in September 2022! The centerpiece of the renovation is the radon rouryu, which fills the sauna room with steam from natural radon springs.

*Information at the time of coverage in September 2022

Soak, drink, breathe, eat
Takes in components from radon springs

The first place I visited was “Iwaburo Kinsen no Yu”. This is a day-trip hot spring facility where you can casually enjoy the natural radon hot springs that were the first in Aichi Prefecture to receive drinking permission.

Although Sanage Onsen is located in the mountains, it is surprisingly easy to get to as a free shuttle bus service is available from Fujigaoka Station on the Higashiyama Subway Line and other locations. By car, it takes about 6 minutes from the Kano IC of the Sanage Green Road. You can enjoy an exhilarating drive.

Radon hot springs are hot springs that contain trace amounts of radiation. Radon hot springs are also known as "medical hot springs" because they can be expected to "activate cells," "promote natural healing power," "increase metabolism," "improve immunity," and many other benefits. There are several ways to take in radon into the body.

① "Bathing" to take in

The first method is to take a bath and take in the ingredients through the skin. Sanage Onsen uses 100% of the precious radon hot spring water that bubbles up from a wellspring on the premises. You can enjoy the high quality natural radon hot spring water in the indoor and outdoor baths, which are piled up with rocks and have a rustic atmosphere.

② Taking in by “drinking”

"Sanage Onsen" is the first hot spring in Aichi Prefecture to receive drinking permission. After taking a bath, there is a natural radon fountain in the resting space.

Each person can take home up to 5 liters per container. Empty PET bottles are also available (550 yen per bottle).

The bottles (500 ml for 180 yen, 2 L for 540 yen), in which natural radon spring water is already packed, are more convenient. They recommend using it for cooking as well as drinking.

③ “Inhale” to take in

“Iwaburo Kinsen-no-Yu” has become a hot topic for its “radon loyly” steam generated by pouring rare natural radon springs over sauna stones.

First, let me introduce the sauna room. The room is large enough to accommodate about eight people, and the temperature is about 90 degrees Celsius for both men and women.

Look at the sauna stove...! The light turns on, and steam fills the room with a "sizzling" sound. Finally, the "Radon loyly" begins.
The natural radon spring water is vaporized and you can inhale it in a natural way. You may also be able to take in the ingredients through the pores opened in the sauna.

I think the main product is the auto laury, where you can also enjoy the scent of aroma oil, but this one is 100% radon spring, so of course it is unscented. It is a one-of-a-kind Loryu that allows you to feel the mystery of natural radon springs. Since it starts at 45 minutes every hour, everyone gathers in the sauna room!

The water bath is designed for one person, so please share it with others. The temperature is said to be 16 to 17 degrees Celsius, but they use filtered mountain water, which is considerably affected by the outside air.

When I spoke to the staff member who showed me around, he said, "The lowest temperature I checked was 6 degrees Celsius" (!). It's a natural single*. ......

* A water bath with a water temperature of 10°C or less.

After steaming and toning your skin in the mountain water-filled water bath, take a rest in the open-air space. The rich natural environment at the foot of Mt. Sanage is a luxurious time that cannot be experienced in a super public bath in the city center. Because it is located in the mountains, the temperature is usually lower than in the center of Nagoya.

④ Taking in by “eating”

Change into a yukata and head to the Onjiki Shokudo on the 1st floor. Here you can enjoy a variety of menus cooked using natural radon springs.

The "Sanage Juwari Soba" (880 yen), which was introduced with the renewal of the restaurant, is one of the most frequently ordered dishes. It uses 100% buckwheat flour produced in Yatsugatake, Shinshu, which is known for its aroma.

The buckwheat flour is pounded in a radon spring, boiled in the radon spring, and tightened in the radon spring, resulting in a strong flavor and smooth throat. When you take your first bite, be sure to enjoy it as it is without dipping it in the sauce.

The "Onsen Yudofu" (hot spring tofu) (1,320 yen per person) has been popular since it first appeared as breakfast at Hotel Kinsenkaku, and is now available at the "Restaurant Shokudo" (limited to 10 servings per day).

After simmering for about 5 minutes, the surface of the tofu will be melted by the ingredients of the hot spring. First, enjoy it as it is. Next, add condiments of your choice to taste.
Add rice to the remaining broth, raw egg and soup stock, and finish with rice ojiya (type of porridge) style!

Soak, drink, inhale, and eat - we named it "ra-katsu" to incorporate radon into the body in all manner of ways. I will not accept any objection.

Designated as a national park
Take a walk around Sanage Onsen

Since we are here, we wandered around the Sanage Onsen site and the surrounding area. Since it is located in the Aichi Kogen National Park, it is a pleasant place to stroll.

With a building that was once used as a karaoke and banquet hall on the side, we head toward Suzugataki Falls.
Hmmm? This scenery looks somewhat "Ghibli-like" (?). Since "Ghibli Park" in Nagakute City, not far from Sanage Onsen, is a hot topic of conversation, this scenery may also become a hot topic!

The Fudo Myoo Shrine and Suzugataki Falls, which were built in 1554, are the highlights of the walking course. It is said that mountaineers and believers who pilgrimage to the sacred Mt. Sanage cleansed themselves at Suzugataki Waterfall and visited this shrine before heading to the summit.

After crossing the Suzugataki Bridge, you will reach the Suzugataki Promenade. There are some ups and downs, but the distance to Lake Suzugataki, the goal, is about 230m, so let's aim for it.

Staying at "Hotel Kinsenkaku" for the ultimate "ra-katsu"

In fact, it is usually less than an hour's drive from downtown Nagoya, but it gives the illusion of being in a "distant hot spring resort," and quite often you will have the urge to not want to leave.

If you stay at "Hotel Kinsenkaku", which is a single inn in Sanage Onsen, you can enjoy a more fulfilling "ra-katsu". We were also specially guided to the hotel.

On the 5th floor, the “Large Public Bath Observation Ancient Cypress Bath” boasts a bathtub made from an ancient cypress tree that is over 1,000 years old. In addition to the effects of natural radon springs, you can also expect forest bathing effects.

There are a variety of guest rooms, from slightly extravagant two-room suites to standard guest rooms that are reasonably priced. Dinner is mainly kaiseki cuisine that makes use of seasonal ingredients. For breakfast, you can taste the "hot spring boiled tofu" introduced earlier!

Guests staying at the hotel can also enter the day-trip hot spring "Iwaburo Kinsen no Yu" for free, and spend two days thoroughly enjoying the experience. If you like hot springs, you should experience it at least once, it's the ultimate luxury.