Kyoto Super Sento Tenzan no Yu

自転車で嵯峨野温泉 天山の湯

Tenzan no Yu is the second "super sento" (large public bath) we have recently visited. The first was Yamato Yu, which is in Tambaguchi.

Tenzan no Yu is located in the Saga area of western Kyoto, not far from Arashiyama.

The bath is a 10-minute ride from Arashiyama. For those taking the train, it is a short walk from Arisugawa Station (Keifuku Station) or about 10 minutes on foot from JR Uzumasa Station.

You enter the large establishment and go up to the second floor. There, you must take off your shoes and put them in a locker on the left (to release the key and lock the locker, you must push a small silver button below the key). Then, at the check in counter, you give the key to one of the workers. You pay after the bath when you come to retrieve the shoe locker key.

On this floor (2F) are various shops, a restaurant, and foot masseuse.

Inside, the procedure is the same as for any sento: you get undressed, take your towel in. First you wash yourself, and rinse all the soap from your body. Then you begin the Big Soak.

There is a "Korean" massage available inside the bath. This was a bit creepy - the men are nude, face down - while middle aged women massage the whole body.

Also, the music piped into the bathing area was annoyingly loud.

Otherwise, Tenzan  no Yu (The Hot Waters of Heavenly Mountain) is divine.

Information

Tenzan no Yu Super Sento (the bath farthest to the left)
Open daily from 10 am to 1 am
General Admission: 1000 yen, children 500 yen
Bike parking on street level underneath in the car parking lot

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Kyoto Super Sento Tambaguchi Yamato Yu

自転車で壬生やまと湯

Among the great experiences to be had in Japan - for long residents or short-term visitors - is the public bath.

From the humble neighborhood sento to the massive "super sento," getting naked with a bunch of strangers and soaking in a variety of baths is divine.

One of Kyoto's Super Sento is located a short walk from the Tambaguchi Station on the JR Saiin Line.

The area is not on any tourist route. It is an average area, a bit cramped, and aside from Mibu Temple and the Motenashi Museum (a former geisha house), there is not much to see in the area.

But we are here for bathing.

The bath is a 10-15 minute ride from Kyoto Station, one block north of Tambaguchi Station.

You enter the large establishment, take off your shoes and store them in a small joker (the 100 yen is returned after you retrieve your shoes). Next to the information counter is the ticket machine. Press button one. You give the ticket to the person at the counter, who will take your shoe locker key and give you a locker key to the changing room on the second floor.

The procedure is the same as for any sento: you get undressed, take your towel in. First you wash yourself, and rinse all the soap from your body. Then you begin the Big Soak. There are multiple baths and saunas to choose from. When you have had your fill of the soothing waters. there is a restaurant on the first floor in which to enjoy a cold beer.

Information

Mibu Yamato Yu Super Sento
Open daily from 10 am to 1 am
General Admission: 700 yen weekdays, 800 weekends
Bike parking on the left

Product of the Day

dhb Luggit Blok 18L Messenger Bag
List price £32.99
SAVE 30% = £9.90
Your Wiggle price: £23.09

© CycleKyoto.com

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Tags Japan Touring Kyoto Cycle Japanese