Uchinomaki Onsen "Aso no yu"
With the manager Mayumi, in front of the entrance
We visited Uchinomaki Onsen “Aso no yu” in Ozato, Aso, Kumamoto.
Akiko welcomed us at the reception. She has been working for Aso no yu for 18 years, thus she knows almost everything about the facilities and services. If you have any questions or need a help, don’t hesitate to ask her, she will be happy to help you.
The facilities in the dressing room is unusual, there are no lockers and compartments, there are only boxes on a table. You can put your clothes in a box. The room is big and airy, and comfortable.
The water is clear, transparent, simple thermal spring which treats neuralgia. It’s really clear. Also, the water is always overflowing to keep the freshness. As the water is very soft and suitable for everyday bathing, many visitors finally settle on Aso no yu even if they went to other onsens.
From the faucet, about 400 liters of hot spring water flows out per minute, that is a large amount compared to average hot springs. After the Kumamoto earthquakes 2016, the amount increased although it decreased or closed in other hot springs nearby.
Katsuyoshi (the name of the man in the bath) has been coming to Aso no yu for 20 years, and he is the No.1 frequent bather in this onsen. He says he has made a lot of friends here and take a drink together every month. For him and his friends, meeting with friends as well as bathing itself are great attractions.
This is the cool water bath that is very popular among frequent bathers. Taking this cool bath after soaking in the hot bath is really refreshing. They say soaking in the cool bath without hesitation is the key to enjoy the bath time.
Aso no yu opened 24 years ago, and has been operating since then although it suffered some natural disasters. These days, not only the locals but people from other prefectures and from abroad, especially Europe, such as Netherlands or Belgium come to Aso no yu. Mayumi says that is really welcoming and happy to accept any first-time visitors.
Aso no yu also offers hotel accommodations, actually the history is longer than the hot spring. If you want to enjoy the beautiful nature of Aso with hiking or cycling as well as hot springs, staying here can be an option. According to Mayumi, you can see an awesome starry sky in winter, she says it’s really recommendable for everyone.
MAP
INFORMATION
Name: Aso no yu
Address: 6 Ozato, Aso, Kumamoto
Tel: 0967-32-1521
Access (Car): 1 hour 15 min from the centre of Kumamoto city. 48 min from the Kumamoto airport
Parking Lot: 25
Opening Hours: 12:00 - 23:00 (last entry at 22:00)
Closing Days: Every first Tuesday
Price: JPY 500
