「Shimanami Onsen Kisuke Hot Spring」 - A Visit

Whenever I have free time, all I think about is going to the sauna. This day, I had a free morning. So my destination was already decided. It was 'Shimanami Onsen Kisuke Hot Spring' in Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture. I woke up at 5:30 AM, took a morning walk, and had breakfast. This routine doesn't change even when I'm back at my parents' house. By 7 AM, I was free. I got ready and set off. Imabari City is also famous as a tourist destination. Particularly, cycling on the Shimanami Kaido attracts many tourists from all over Japan and the world. Riding a bicycle over the Seto Inland Sea must be exhilarating. Some might think I should at least enjoy the scenery. However, I head straight to the sauna. After driving for about an hour, I arrived at the destination. I bought a ticket from the vending machine and completed the reception. Since it was early, I was able to enter at the discounted morning bath rate. Lucky me. Upon entering the bathhouse, I cleansed myself and checked the layout. It seemed smaller than Matsuyama's facilities. Still, in this open space, everything necessary was available: carbonated spring, natural hot spring, jacuzzi, cold bath, and two types of saunas. I warmed my body in the carbonated spring and headed to the main sauna. Upon entering, I was amazed once again. It was much more spacious than the exterior suggested. And dark. A space perfect for meditation. I sat cross-legged and slowly closed my eyes. The heat rushed over me. I was sweating quite a bit. Just when I thought I needed one more push, the auto-löyly began. A large amount of steam was generated from the sauna stones. Furthermore, wind blew from the device for sending heat waves, and the perceived temperature rose instantly. I was impressed by the quality of this auto-löyly system.

After leaving the sauna, it's time for the cold bath. The temperature is set at 16°C. I take my time cooling my body. Since it's a morning bath, there are few people, and I have the cold bath to myself. When it's crowded, you can't stay in the cold bath for long. You have to keep it to a minimum time so the next person can achieve totonou. But today, there's no such worry. There are only three people in the large bath, including myself. I also have the outdoor bathing space to myself. I sit on a chair and close my eyes. My body is crying out with joy. I can feel my cells rejoicing. For the second set, I go to a different sauna. It's called the 'Cabin Sauna' and can accommodate about 6 people. There's no TV. In this sauna, you can do löyly. Since no one else is there, it's like a private sauna. When I pour water on the sauna stones, the scent of green tea spreads throughout the room. It's a fragrance I've never experienced before, and it's very relaxing. This tea is also produced in Ehime Prefecture. I can enjoy the local bounty even in the sauna. It made me feel somehow happy. Before I knew it, three sets were completed. Morning sauna gives you a different kind of totonou than evening sauna. Evening sauna is time to heal, appreciate, and maintain the body that worked hard all day. Morning sauna is like giving stimulation with the image of 'I'm counting on you for the day ahead.' Each sleeping cell wakes up one by one. Energy wells up. I feel like I can go anywhere and do anything. I head home in the best mood. No detours. Coming all the way to Imabari for an hour, enjoying only the sauna and hot springs, then taking another hour to return. Such sauna trips are perfectly fine too.