We visited TM Onsen "Masakari Onsen" in Shinjo, Tarumizu. If you like Japanese horse racing, you might have heard the name. Yes, the owner of this onsen is the owner of TM Opera O that was the champion horse in 2000.

The manager Kazufumi welcomed us at the reception. After paying the entrance fee, he gave us locker keys.

You can use a locker with the same number as your key. The lockers are aged. However, they still work as expected, you can put your valuables in the locker.

This is the bathroom, it looks like a planet in a Sci-Fi movie (like the planet Tatooine in Star Wars, excepting water). The water contains a rich amount of calcium and magnesium, and the deposited minerals have made this unique scenery. The deposited minerals pile in the bathroom edge and the floor.

When we visited Masakari Onsen, we found an empty bath next to the bath in the previous picture. We asked the manager about that, and he said the bath in use is switched every other day to to keep both of the baths clean. As the water contains a rich amount of minerals, lines are drawn on the tub.

This is the faucet. The manager also says that he needs to replace the faucet every one and a half years because the deposited minerals are stuck in the pipe.

A frequent bather Mamoru (the name of the man in the picture) said "This water treats muscle pain. When I take a bath in Masakari Onsen after playing golf, muscle pain is eased." Also, bathing in winter is recommended because the water is not too hot and you can soak in a bath long time to heat up your body thoroughly.

He is the manager Kazufumi. This onsen opened about 20 years ago. Originally the owner wanted to pump up the water under the ground to wash his horses, however, he luckily found a hot spring source, that was the beginning. Kazufumi recommends bathing in April and October, in a chilly day .

There is a beach right next to Masakari Onsen. If you visit Kagoshima in summer, you can play in the beach and then go to the onsen to refresh yourself.

MAP

INFORMATION

Name: Masakari Onsen

Address: 4453-1 Shinjo, Tarumizu, Kagoshima

Tel: 099-435-3520

Access (Car): 1 hour 11 min from the centre of Kagoshima city (including ferry). 1 hour 11 min from the Kagoshima airport

Parking Lot: 20

Opening Hours: Daily 11:00 - 19:00

Closing Days: Monday

Price: JPY 330