Hotaru no Yu is an eloquently designed, stylish supersento in a suburban area of Moriyama city. I could imagine that many of the people who live out here commute into Kyoto or Osaka to work. It is a complement to the other supersento in Moriyama, Mizuho. Even though they are both in the same city Hotaru and Mizuho are in completely different places. Mizuho was built in a more in an older, blue-collar neighborhood near the factories that symbolize Shiga in my mind. Hotaru was built for ever expanding suburbs spilling out from Kyoto and Osaka.

I actually think Mizuho is better due to the spring, visually speaking Hotaru is one of the best supersento around. The spring here in Hotaru is fine, better than average maybe, but the baths seemed to be not the focus of the complex. The dark, calming wood framing the exquisite Japanese garden did create a great atmosphere.

Overall, Hotaru is an exceptional supersento and one that I would be happy to live near. Just be aware you are paying the high price for the building and the garden not so much the baths.