I first encountered Aratae no Yu four years ago, in July 2021. At the time, I was working in Tokyo, but with my upcoming independence and switch to fully remote work, I was searching for a new place to live. My conditions were simple: a place with an ocean view from my room, and a super sento nearby. Those two things. That search led me to Naruto City, Tokushima Prefecture. I found a wonderful apartment, and finally made my way to Aratae no Yu. I stepped inside for the first time, silently hoping it would be a super sento where I could truly find totonou to my heart's content.
Nearly four years have passed since then, and Naruto Natural Hot Spring Aratae no Yu has become my home sauna. I go basically every day. Top-class carbonated spring water, natural hot springs, a Finnish sauna, a cold plunge bath at 15°C, and a stunning view from the outdoor bath — everything is wonderful. I'm a lucky man to have a place like this in my neighborhood.
My routine starts with a quick rinse, then I ease into the carbonated spring. Masses of carbon dioxide bubbles cling to my skin and my body slowly warms from within. When I feel my blood really circulating, I slide into the cold plunge bath. Then it's sauna → cold plunge → outdoor air cooling, repeated for 3 to 5 sets. Along the way I'll soak in the natural hot spring outdoor bath, enjoy the carbonated spring again, or chat with the regulars. By the time I leave, the fatigue and mental clutter of the day have vanished. All that's left is to eat something good and sleep soundly until morning.
The sauna at Aratae no Yu is simply built for sweating. Automatic löyly runs every hour, keeping the humidity high. The flow from the sauna to the cold plunge bath is perfectly laid out — having it right there the moment you step out is a genuine pleasure. After the cold plunge, you move to the outdoor bath, where you can reach totonou while gazing out at the sea and mountains. I usually end up spacing out, staring at the mountain peaks or the open sky above.