You have to love the amount of political posters and 70-80s looking facade here. Then there is a coin laundry placed between the main entrance and the shoe boxes with retro era washing machines whirring along. Then you see the tiles on the floor of the shoe locker. Those beautiful tiles continue all the way to the back walk of the sento with a mosaic that becomes the fountain that fills the baths. This place was well thought out.
But, Takamaru is small. Very small. The sauna, now a storage closet, is in the changing room on the opposite side from the baths. There are 3 baths; a very rare shallow electric, a jet and a main bath. 3 adult men of us in the baths was enough. Maybe 2 more guys could have made a tight fit. Sadly there is no cold water bath.
Surprised to see that the water here is from a well but it was not apparent on the skin. The grandmother sitting in the bandai was kind and friendly as was the customer whom I chatted with while changing. A great feeling sento and one that might not be around too much longer. Visit this little bit of local history before it is too late.