Kofuku Onsen "HAPPY YOU"
With the owner Nobuyuki, in front of the Men’s bath entrance
We visited “Kofuku Onsen” in Miyamaruchō, Miyakonojō, Miyazaki. The owner’s family used to run a warehouse business here. They drilled the ground to get groundwater for washing cars, but unexpectedly discovered a cool spring source. That’s the beginning of Kofuku Onsen. As it is situated near the Nishi-Miyakonojō station, Kofuku Onsen opens by 11pm so that people coming back from the office can take a bath at night. Also, it offers hotel accommodations.
He is the owner Nobuyuki. We asked him about the name “Kofuku Onsen”. According to him, his father run a company named “Kofuku Sangyo” when the cool spring was found, and made an application to the public office using the name “Kofuku” just for the temporary use; however, the name has been unchanged since then because it is easy to remember.
Satomi welcomed us with a smile at the reception. The reception staff will lend you a locker key in exchange of your car key. Take it to keep your valuables in a locker.
This is the dressing room. You can use a compartment, box, or locker.
The bathroom is big. When you get in the room, a red bath will soon catch your eye although there also are a big cool bath and a sauna. This bath contains non-recycled pure cool spring water. The original water is transparent but the colour changes to red after being heated up for bathing because it contains a rich amount of iron ions. This bath is not too hot, so it is good for a long soak.
Enough amount of water is flowing out. Frequent bathers say the bath treats muscle pain and foot pain, and can get rid of fatigue.
He is a frequent bather Munehiko. He was a classmate of the owner Nobuyuki in the elementary, junior high, and high school. On this day, he had a chat with the owner as always.
This is the big cool bath which contains the original cool spring water, and it is not too cold. Nobuyuki says Kofuku Onsen (幸福温泉 in Japanese, which literally means “Happiness Hot Spring”) has a tagline “HAPPY YOU”. He hopes all the visitors get happy after bathing here even on bad days.
MAP
INFORMATION
Name: Kofuku Onsen "HAPPY YOU"
Address: 3122-6 Miyamaruchō, Miyakonojō, Miyazaki
Tel: 0986-23-2222
Access (Car): 48 min from the centre of Miyazaki City. 46 min from the Miyazaki airport
Parking Lot: 30
Opening Hours: Daily 09:00 - 23:00
Price: JPY 400
