Kumamoto Kumamoto City
Yulax
The shock of 171 cm water depth and the MADMAX button. The West's holy ground embraced by Aso's subterranean water
- Open 24 Hours
- Natural Hot Spring
- Aufguss available
- Self löyly available
- Finnish sauna
- Sauna Available
About Yulax
"Yulax" is a legendary facility in Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture, revered by sauna enthusiasts across Japan as the "Mecca of the West." Its biggest highlight is Japan's deepest cold plunge bath, filled lavishly with subterranean water from Aso, with depths of 171 cm in the men's bath and 153 cm in the women's bath. Press the "MADMAX button" overhead, and 170 liters of natural water per minute cascade down like a waterfall, letting you experience the ultimate cooling sensation as the blessings of Aso pierce your entire body. The saunas are equally impressive, with three carefully crafted rooms, including hourly löyly services by a professional aufguss team and a meditation sauna where you can face yourself in silence. Together with the natural hot spring, it offers the ultimate totonou experience that stimulates all five senses.
Hot SpringONSEN
Yulax Hot Spring
A natural weakly alkaline hot spring that rises from underground. Its gentle, skin-friendly texture deepens relaxation after sauna sessions. In the indoor baths and open-air bath, you can fully enjoy the warm blessing nurtured by the land of Kumamoto, offering a blissful moment that loosens both body and mind between sauna rounds.
SaunaSAUNA
Aufguss Sauna
The main sauna, the symbol of Yulax. From 12:00 noon to 1:00 a.m., every hour, a heat-wave service is offered by a professional aufguss team. Their energetic towel performances, synchronized to music and fragrance, go far beyond mere sweating and become pure entertainment. In the spacious theater-style room, you can bask your entire body in passionate waves of hot air and enjoy sweating to the limit.
Meditation Sauna
A quiet sauna built around the concept of meditation. In the dimly lit room, the scent of vihta drifts through the air, creating a space where you can deeply face yourself. Self-löyly is available, and the pleasant sound that rings out the moment water is poured onto the sauna stones, together with the gentle steam, softly envelops your body. In this calm atmosphere, you can spend a sauna session that sharpens the mind.
Great Aso Eruption Meditation Sauna
A unique steam sauna inspired by Aso's volcano, with natural hot spring water flowing underfoot. Hot steam gushes out periodically and fills the room, warming your whole body with humid heat rich in hot spring minerals. In this one-of-a-kind environment where the warmth of the spring and the power of steam come together, you can enjoy a healing experience that slowly loosens you from the core of your body.
Cold BathCOLD BATH
Aso Subterranean Water Deep Bath (MADMAX)
The deepest cold plunge bath in Japan, filled lavishly with subterranean water from Aso. The men's bath is 171 cm deep, and the women's bath is 153 cm deep, allowing you to cool your entire body deeply and vertically while standing. Its biggest feature is the MADMAX button overhead. The moment you press it, 170 liters of natural water per minute pour down violently, delivering an overwhelming sensation as you are drenched in the blessings of Aso. The mellow quality of this famous water, combined with the dramatic effect, leads you to the ultimate totonou state.
Facility Information
- Address
- 722 Honjo-machi, Chuo Ward, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture
- Business Hours
- Open 24 Hours
Bath cleaning from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Closed twice a year for maintenance
- Closed Days
- Unknown
- Gender Access
- Gender Separated
- Tattoo Policy (Communal Bath)
- No Tattoos
- Official Website
- View official site
Access
Visited by the Editor-in-Chief
The Editor-in-Chief visited in person in December 2025
Japan's Finest aufguss and the Ultimate Cold Plunge Bath, Once More
Read the full review
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