Recently, we went to Yugawara in Kanagawa, Japan. The original plan was to take part in the "Orange Run", an 11km run up a steep hill in the town, along the top of a mountain and then down through the hot springs in the town. My girlfriend had booked a nice hotel, with an onsen (hot spring) attached and we were all ready to go when the Corona virus emerged and the government cancelled all sporting events in Japan.
Anyway, we still had the hotel booked and so we went to Yugawara and had a great weekend there relaxing.
On Saturday, we checked in and then went to the foot baths, a large complex in the town. Unfortunately, it was the last weekend of the baths being open, as the week after, and for a couple of years, the baths and the park in which they are situated were going to be renovated. The sign at the baths said that they were going to be completely removed. This was a sad, but very relaxing last visit for me to the baths.
That afternoon was almost balmy for April, there were not so many people there, I suppose, because of the virus, but the people that were there were really happy and relaxed.
There were 9 foot baths in the hot spring. It only costs 300 yen to enter and you can stay for as long as you like. Its outside, so it was very nice in the sun surrounded by nature and water.
Here are some pictures of the hot springs, some of which were extremely hot, or had a spa, or pebbles to walk on, or a slope etc. and all gave relief to different areas of the body, apparently. I appologise for including my feet in the pictures, but, due to my relaxed state, I didnt want to move.
The hot spring below was the absolute hottest!
Thsi one was the jacuzzi.
I really hope that they decide to make a new foot hot spring here. I have been coming here on and off for over ten years and really enjoy it, although, apparently, foot hot springs have been losing favour with the Japanese recently.
As a side note, the same river which drains the hot spring runs down past some cherry trees which were in bloom on the same day, so we went and did a little hanami (cherry blossom gazing) after relaxing at the hot spring.
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