From start to finish the water at Fudo-Yu amazed me. It felt hotter than it's actual temperature, and the heat stays with you. Also in some of the baths you might find yu no hana (湯の花) which is bits of minerals, plant life or whatever that comes up with the well water. There is a sign warning bathers of the presence of yu no hana and explaining that it's not garbage. Yu no hana is a sign of a high quality well water and in the case of Fudo-yu it holds true. Practically all of the baths use the wonderful well water. The deep circular bath is one of the best designed baths that I have soaked in. It's simple design betrays how well built it is. The added pressure of being under that much water also helps in making it feel hotter. The sides are nice and wide enough for you to sit and dangle your legs into the bath when it gets too hot for you. That's just talking about the first bath, the rest are just as wonderful. I could have sat in the shallow bath for hours if I had the time. I wish the jet baths were a bit stronger, and the rotenburo has only a little view of the open sky, but those are inconsequential in the overall experience.
A very basic facade with a giant neon ゆ, the name in neon and a sign board. The baths are on the second floor with parking below. Like it's sister onsen, Fudo-yu doesn't need to attach bells and whistles to attract customers. It has great water and it exploits it well. Beside a few vending machines and draft beer nothing else is for sale here, nothing else is needed. In the bathing area, the seats are tile and built into the floor be careful not to hit your toe.
I like coming here because everyone was smiling. Everyone was happy. Why wouldn’t they be I came in and was immediately talked to by a gangster, his body totally covered in tattoos. Only is lower arm, feet, nipples and that other place down there wasn't tattooed. He asked in his mumbling, guttural Japanese, "Japan dekimasuka” meaning, "Can you do Japan” which I assume he meant as "Can you speak Japanese.” I replied that I could and he laughed. In the bath there was a little 2 year old boy who kept on checking me out so I said “hi" to him. His grandfather and I began to chat a bit and I found out that the boy went to an English preschool. Everyone here was happy and how could they not be with a bathhouse like this; how could you be sad They try to keep the sauna very dry so they ask everyone to use the bath towel you receive at the front desk to wipe off any excess water from your body before entering the sauna.