Again, you never know what kind of experience you will have when you enter a sento and after all these years and all these baths, I am still amazed by what I found. Let’s begin with the oddest item. In the mens and women’s sides, hanging from the roof are round speakers the size of those sugidama (https://sake-world.com/sugidama-sake-lore-of-olde-cryptomeria-balls/) connected to the TV running the NHK evening news. This also relates to another thing I have noticed over the years: if your sento is playing NHK they are a more community minded establishment and generally more friendly. This one had a unique sign above the entrance to the baths asking everyone to combat arson and fires. I thought this odd till I noticed the award from the Osaka fire department commending this sento on its efforts to promote disaster awareness in the community. Moving on, this sento has the best koi pond (at least in the men's side) that I have ever seen! In old sento designs there is an inner garden for both men and women’s sides. Typically they contain random detritus, a decent garden, nothing, or the toilet (in a separate room of course). While I have seen koi ponds at different sento this one was top notch with some really honkers in there. In the baths I was brought back to the gengabashi style Osaka sento with the slabs of granite making islands on the floor. Sadly gengabashi is closed as of this writing this appears to be equally historic and worth the same amount of commondentation for the preservation of history. There are only a few baths in the small space this sento has and only the faucets on the outside wall here work so you might have to squeeze in with your neighbor as I did. Not a big problem. The fountain filling the baths is unique and the electric bath was brilliant. There is a small, single person sized salt bath (rinse off before entering the other baths please) in the corner too. A cold water bath is missing but you can use the kakari basin if needed. On the dividing wall is one of the best mosaics I have seen of a Picasso-esque lady holding a cup of coffee with cacti in the background. As my home is in the desert southwest of the USA it was the first sento mosaic that displayed a landscape from my corner of the world and I loved it. Lastly, make sure to check out the sinks and basin containing them in the changing room. This place is living history but please do be respectful and responsible if you make your way out here . Tattoos and smoking seemed to be allowed.
During COVID they are closing at 9pm.