Hot water lax
Speaking of Kumamoto's sauna, ``Hot water lax” and “Sacred place of the westIt is a sauna facility that is so called.
Also, the drama “sa roadI think it's also famous for appearing in episodes 11 and 12 (the final episode) of ``''.
This time we will talk about such “Hot water laxI stayed in a dormitory and used it, so I will write a review!
sauna
There are three types of saunas.
- classic sauna
- meditation sauna
- Great Eruption Meditation Sauna Great Aso
In addition to this, there is also a theater-style sauna called Sauna Theater.
Recently, there has been an increase in the number of Aufguss + entertainment style saunas, and there are many mixed-gender saunas where guests wear indoor clothes.
Personally, I'm against this type of thing, and I'd rather just take the Loryu + Aufguss naked and take a bath and rest right after that. .
Therefore, I did not use it this time, and I will not discuss it further here. .
classic sauna
This is the largest main sauna.
There used to be a TV, but now the TV is always turned off.
With your back to the door, there is a sauna stove on the right side and a sauna heater on the left side.
If you use the sauna stove side during aufguss and the sauna heater side during normal times, you will be able to experience the heat.
Aufguth
In the classic sauna, Aufguss is held every hour between 12:00, 13:00, ..., 25:00, except at 22:00.
It seems that Guerrilla also holds an early morning aufguss.
I had the aufguss twice this time, and both times they were quite hot and well steamed.
When I was taking a break after the Aufguss, I saw the heat wave therapist who was in charge. Aufgisser? Since it blows air upward, it is perfect for outer care.
Aufguss is so popular that I felt like I needed to be in the sauna room about 10 minutes early to get my favorite spot.
I was warned not to push myself too hard because many people were sick and collapsed before the start of Aufguss, but this was probably the cause. . As I was thinking about this, I heard an announcement like this.
About Aufguss During Crowded Periods
From today,
In order for customers to use the sauna safely,
During Aufguss in the men's main sauna room on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays,
We will introduce a lottery system on a trial basis.We asked everyone to leave the room 10 minutes before the start of Aufguss.
The lottery will be held in front of the main sauna room.
Thank you for your cooperation.— Yulax@Official (@InfoYulax) June 8, 2024
By the way, not only those who are unwell, but also those who have consumed alcohol are not allowed to participate.
Before visiting Yulax,Kohrantei Shimotori main store” I ended up drinking beer. .
By the time I received Aufguss, it had been more than 3 hours since I had taken it, so I guess it's okay. .
meditation sauna
This is a dark sauna where you can do self-lowering.
It's so dark at night that you can't even tell there's anyone there.
You can concentrate in the sauna because it's dark, but there is a sign saying that talking is prohibited, but when there are people talking, sniffling, or sweating, I get the impression that the noise can be quite disturbing.
It's a good sauna when there aren't many people, such as early morning, but I think it depends on the number of people at busy times, such as at night.
Great Eruption Meditation Sauna Great Aso
It's a steam sauna.
There is salt in the sauna room, so you can also enjoy it as a salt sauna.
I think it's perfect for getting used to your body in the morning.
water bath
What you should pay attention to in a cold bath is,MAD MAX button”.
Water is always flowing like a waterfall, but by pressing a button the amount of water flowing can be increased many times.
It's exactly like a waterfall.
The water bath is also quite deep, with the deepest point being 171cm.
At the deepest part, you have to grab a rope to get into the water, and the other parts are about 150cm deep, so you basically have to stand up while taking a bath.
The water bath itself isn't that big, but you have to stand up to enter, so I think about 10 people can take a bath at the same time.
The water temperature is around 14 degrees Celsius, which is a nice temperature.
rest spot
There are plenty of resting spots, and I'm sure there are at least 15 chairs that allow you to lean back more firmly than the curvy chairs.
After Roryu, it may get crowded and you can only sit at the edge of the bath, but I think you can usually find a seat somewhere.
bath
It is a natural hot spring!
The quality of the spring water is refreshing and there is no sulfur smell, so I don't think you would know it was a hot spring unless it was called a hot spring.
There is only one bath, but it is large and has a reclining chair so you can lie down while bathing, as well as an area with jets and an electric bath.
Since the areas are divided like this, I had the impression that there were few places where you could take a normal bath while leaning against the wall.
dormitory
This time I stayed in a dormitory.
Dormitories have mattresses, pillowcases, and blankets.
The mat also has a moderate amount of softness.
There is one outlet, and the electricity can be turned off and on with a switch at hand.
There are hotel-type rooms and semi-private rooms for women, so if you are concerned about noise and privacy, this is probably the better choice.
The hotel type is in a separate building, so it feels like it's a hassle to go back and forth to the bathroom and restaurant. .
Good points: Lots of amenities
Amenities were quite plentiful.
The hair dryer is Dyson, and the lotion is MUJI.
In addition to water and tea, there was also unlimited drinking of freshly ground coffee and detox water.
Points to note ①: Noise
In a typical sauna facility, there is a floor with a capsule room.Hot water lax', there is a dormitory near the rest room with regular reclining chairs.
Therefore, you can hear the footsteps of people moving around, and you can also hear people talking near the rest room.
Also, you can hear a lot of snoring in the dormitory/rest room, so you can hear a lot of noise.
Points to note ②: Inferior to regular capsule hotels
Dormitories are like bunk beds connected together.
There is also the noise issue that I mentioned earlier, and I also feel vibrations when other people enter the dormitory.
It is connected to the dormitory next door through the space above, so you can see when the lights are on next door.
In terms of air conditioning, the rooms are not separated into individual rooms like capsule hotels, so the air conditioning inside the dormitory is effective, so it wasn't too hot inside the dormitory.
I have to say that overall the environment was worse than a normal capsule hotel.
I was able to sleep normally, but if you are in a capsule hotel, it may be difficult for people who can barely stop, so I think you should be prepared.
Note ③: Bathroom cleaning time
Bathroom cleaning time is from 8:00 to 10:00, and you cannot use the bathroom (sauna/bath) during this time.
It's extremely difficult to use, as you either wake up early and arrive before cleaning time, or check out is at 11:00, so you have to come in after cleaning time. .
If possible, I would like cleaning to be done late at night or early in the morning when there are fewer users, but I guess that would be difficult due to labor costs and other issues. .
restaurant
The quality of the restaurant is quite high.
I think it's top class quality among sauna facilities.
If I had to point out a drawback, it would be that the prices for both drinks and food are high. .
This time I used it twice, for dinner or drinks and once for breakfast.
Drink: Bottled beer + fried horse mackerel
First, we will receive Bin Beeru (Bottled Beer).
Beer after sauna aufguss is the most delicious.
The high point is that they also provide chilled glasses.
However, it's a bit expensive at over 1,000 yen for a large bottle. .
Next, the fried horse mackerel arrived.
The fried horse mackerel that I personally think is the most delicious is ``Hot water lax” fried horse mackerel.
The batter is crispy and the body is fluffy.
It has a strong taste of salt and pepper, so it's delicious just as it is.
It's delicious with tartar sauce, but I personally prefer it with just a little salt.
What doesn’t end here is “Hot water lax” fried horse mackerel.
The bones are also served as bone crackers, so you can enjoy the whole horse mackerel.
This time I ordered it individually, but you can also order it as a set meal.
Drama “sa roadMapo tofu, which also appeared in ``'', is also a specialty, but I was too full, so I gave it up this time. .
Breakfast: Kotohira specialty hitosuji udon
I had it for breakfast.
The noodles were quite chewy, and the udon had a different firmness from Sanuki.
There's also plenty of meat in there.
The meat is well-cooked and falls apart easily.
The soup was sweet, and I had a strong impression that it was a broth made from stewed meat rather than a broth made from bonito or kelp.
The garnished green onions and plenty of ginger go well together, so we recommend adding them according to your preference.
customer base
『Hot water lax” itself is more like a super public bath than a sauna facility like those found in Tokyo.
It is also possible to use the bath only, so I get the impression that the clientele for the bath and sauna at night are mostly local high school and university students.
I have to say that the customer base is bad because it's so-called Dragon Quest, and there are some conversations in the bathroom and sauna.
Early morning guests are basically overnight guests, and many are solo guests, so you can spend a very comfortable time here.
However, most of the guests are in their 40s and 50s, so there are some difficulties when sleeping, such as snoring.
Overall Assessment
『Hot water laxI was able to enjoy the sauna and meals at the hotel.
You can enjoy hot springs, and the quality of the sauna and cold bath is of course high, as is the quality of the food, so it's easy to see why it's called the sacred place of the west.
What I am personally concerned about is the customer base. .
At night, there are many students and the bathroom is noisy.Many of the guests are in their 40s and 50s, and due to the structure of the dormitory, you can hear snoring. .
Personally, I think the best solution is to use the free course during the day on weekdays (when there are no students), enjoy the sauna and meals, and choose a hotel near the bus terminal. .
I think I will visit again, but next time I will use the optimal solution written above. .
information
■Homepage
If you want to guarantee your stay, we recommend making reservations in advance.
The official website is the cheapest, with prices starting from 4,700 yen for the upper dormitory, and an additional 100 yen for the lower dormitory.
『Rakuten Travel” and “JalanYou can also make a reservation fromIt's 100 yen more expensive than the official website.
https://hb.afl.rakuten.co.jp/hgc/1dbf8fad.4a5d8164.1dbf8fae.092c41c8/?pc=httpstravel.rakuten.co.jpHOTEL183778183778.htmlcidtr_af_1632&link_type=hybrid_url&ut=eyJwYWdlIjoiaXRlbSIsInR5cGUiOiJoeWJyaWRfdXJsIiwic2l6ZSI6IjEwMHgxMDAiLCJuYW0iOjEsIm5hbXAiOiJyaWdodCIsImNvbSI6MSwiY29tcCI6ImRvd24iLCJwcmljZSI6MCwiYm9yIjoxLCJjb2wiOjEsImJidG4iOjEsInByb2QiOjAsImFtcCI6ZmFsc2V9
Normally, I think it's better to use the official website, but if you're aiming for SPU or using points, I think it's acceptable to book from Rakuten Travel because of the 100 yen price difference.
■Access
For public transportation, I think you will need to use the bus or Heisei Station on the JR Kyushu Hohi Main Line.
