A few onsen can make me feel better than this place. From the outside I was a bit scared, no big sign, no neon, nothing but a few bikes. Inside was the same. No pictures, no advertisements. Everything was very stark. In fact the only decoration I saw was an old sign with some Buddhist scripture written in calligraphy on it. Any place that doesn't rely on advertisements or fancy baths must have great water. I wasn't let down. The large main bath was filled with crystal clear perfectly heated water that felt great to the touch. I can't describe how wonderful this water was, but there is more. Outside in a long bath along the side of the building is an gensen bath with some of the best onsen water I have ever seen. Slightly brown, the water was in a perfect temperature for long soaking. My skin felt wonderful as soon as I got in. Sitting in this bath I realized how bathing is one of our last contacts with nature. Yes I am in a building and yes the tub isn't some dirt and rock lined hole, but the water, that wonderful water that was surrounding my body might have rained upon the Earth when dinosaurs still roamed the land. It was ancient. I was bathing in it. A sign above the bath said to not worry about the yu no hana, clumps of organic sediment, that come up with the water. This is a sign of good water. There were 3 other grandfathers in the bath with me and I wanted to talk to them, but I couldn't understand their old grandfather Japanese and I didn't want to barge in, so I reminded silent. Leaving I complemented the nice lady on how wonderful the water was. She said that gaijin were rather rare and asked where I came from. I replied Sanda, where I lived at that time, forgetting that she probably meant what country. We talked about some other things and I promised to return and I left. About 100 meters down the street I heard someone calling something and turned around. One of the grandfathers was calling me to come back. The lady wanted to find out what country I was from. I returned to the onsen and told them I was from America, and I had this blog and that this was a top 10 onsen. She was very surprised and happy about that and they invited me to have a drink. Sadly, I had to decline. I should have stayed, but I had an appointment later that evening and had to get going. I cannot emphasize enough how wonderful this onsen is. If you're only a tourist and want to experience a bit of vernacular Japanese culture, if you're a hot spring fan in your country and want to experience some top-notch Japanese water this is the place. I have since been back to this sento many times a few times with my daughter even and I constantly recommend it to people who I meet. Its hard to believe that in the middle of the city is this amazing natural place.

Update 2019: Still lovely. They have free body soap and shampoo now. Still unsure of the name is it Kengon, Kegon, or Kagen?