One would think that a trip to a HOT spring in the middle of summer would be absolutely crazy, and one would be completely right… in a good way.
Hot Spring (Onsen) resorts are most popular in the winter. I have to admit that there is immense pleasure in sitting in a naturally (very) hot natural spring with snow falling all around you. It feels good inside and out, especially if you’ve got a nice view and good people around you.
The same can be true in the summer, especially for a day trip to an all encompassing indoor water park such as Osaka’s SpaWorld.
Located in downtown Osaka, this huge complex houses restaurants, changing rooms, two floors of hot springs, smaller shops, video game arcades, and swimming pools with play areas for children, three different water slides, a current pool, and small poolside food shops.
A bathing suit is required for the pool are and it is open to both sexes. Bathing suits are available for rental in the locker room area. At the pool side, there are tubes available for rental for use in the current pool, but you can also bring your own (recommended, as it will be cheaper to buy one on the way than to rent one there). The current pool goes through a small cave area with sprays of water so don’t be surprised if you pass by young Japanese couples making out by the side of the pool!
There is also a small play area for children on an island in the pool area with small slides and a smaller pool for families to enjoy. There is also a hot spring in the pool area that families and couples can enter together (wearing bathing suits).
The hot springs are obviously separated between men and women, and the floors alternate. One floor is dedicated to Asian style baths and the other is dedicated to Europe. That’s a great reason to go more than once.
There are also salt baths and a variety of the healthy “novelty” baths including one with a low level electric current running through it. Men and women generally roam their floors naked or with a small complimentary towel covering themselves.
There is a small sports gym in the complex and a connected hotel which offers longer access hours to people staying. A great place to stay if you are in Osaka.
SpaWorld is easy to access by subway, and extensive parking is also available.
Although a trip in winter would be excellent, there are a thousand good reasons to go in the summer… specifically that a full day at SpaWorld is only 1,000 during the summer (until September 30!)
I highly recommend a trip to SpaWorld if you are looking for something cheap and fun to spend a day doing in Osaka!
Here is a link to SpaWorld’s English language homepage so you can check it out for yourself.