Language:

With the manager Akifumi, in front of the dressing room — With the manager *Akifumi*, in front of the dressing room

We visited “Ichinoharu Kyodo Onsen” in Shinbeppu, Beppu, Ōita.

This is an old advertising board of Otafukuwata. Otafuku is a traditional Japanese character and that makes this advertisement very impressive.

If you are not a union member, you need to buy a ticket to take a bath. It is sold in this store which is located near the bathhouse.

A small Yakushi statue is enshrined at the entrance. Insert the ticket to the box to get in the room.

This is the dressing room. Although it is small (maybe three people is the maximum), it is very clean and equipped with beautiful wood compartments.

The bathroom is really nicely aged. The bathroom floor and the bathtub are all made with granite stones, and the bathtub has 80 years of history. That is quite unusual even in Beppu.

The water type is chloride spring, and the original temperature is 65°C (149°F). The bath temperature is adjusted to about 42°C (107.6°F).

Hachiro (the name of the man in the bath) is a frequent bather who comes to Ichinoharu Kyodo Onsen every day. He used to be a scaffold builder. He really likes this clear and soft water.

Akifumi is the chairman of the local union that manages Ichinoharu Kyodo Onsen. The members of the union work voluntarily to maintain this public bathhouse. The locals get together at this onsen to communicate with friends as well as to enjoy bathing. Ichinoharu Kyodo Onsen still serves as a social hub for the local community although that is a traditional but disappearing role of public bathhouse.