Who knew that Kainan city was like the YamatoTakada of Wakayama? This is another city with 3 supers retro sento and one unique natural hot spring facility
Taishō Onsen had a lovely grandmother working the front. There was a terrarium with three beetles on the main table in front of the TV. It really felt more like a living room than a changing room. The toilet was a Japanese style pit toilet—so rare! I guess this is due to the age of the neighborhood and how close it is to the sea. It’s easy to tell you are near the water thanks to all the tsunami evacuation signage in this area.
Taishō is listed in the book of retro sento. It’s got cred. There are two baths deep and an oddly rectangular shallow. The latter I guess would be great for kids. As far a sento go this is one for the people who like walking around old Japanese, Showa era neighborhoods that are aging beautifully. The bath is just fine. If you're only (and I mean ONLY) looking for a bath perhaps you should go elsewhere. But if you interested in taking in all the history of this town, please try it out.