My family home sits in Ehime Prefecture, a nature-blessed region cradled between sea and mountains. Ehime is also home to some of Japan's most celebrated hot springs, including the legendary Dogo Onsen. "So, which sauna should I visit during this homecoming?" I always start my research well before returning. This time, I'd set my sights on Kisuke-no-Yu. The first day back was devoted to family gatherings and paying respects at ancestral graves—expressing gratitude to those who came before me. Yet even amid these meaningful moments, my body was practically vibrating with sauna cravings. What can I say? I'm hopelessly addicted. Over dinner, my mother asked, "Where are you planning to go tomorrow?" "I'm thinking of hitting up Kisuke-no-Yu," I replied. My grandmother's eyes lit up: "I want to come too!" And just like that, our three-generation sauna expedition was born. We rolled up to Kisuke-no-Yu at 10 AM sharp. The instant I stepped into the main bathing area after checking in, I was absolutely floored by the sheer scale. It felt like bathing in a concert hall—soaring ceilings, bathtubs of epic proportions. I started by boosting my circulation in the carbonated spring, which had the perfect CO2 concentration. My body began warming from the inside out. Then came the moment I'd been waiting for: my first sauna set. Kisuke-no-Yu boasts two legendary saunas: the massive 40-person "Fujin Sauna" and the scorching 110°C "Oni Sauna." I began with the Fujin Sauna, and once again, the size blew my mind—you could literally host a conference in there. Settling onto the upper bench at around 90°C, with automatic löyly keeping the humidity perfectly dialed in, I could feel the sweat starting to flow. This was clearly living up to its 2024 Nifty Sauna Rankings crown as Japan's #1 facility. With perspiration in full swing, it was time for the cold plunge.

Two cold plunge options awaited: 16°C and 9°C. For my first set, I opted for the gentler 16°C bath, then moved to the "indoor air bathing" recovery room—a dedicated ととのう sanctuary that absolutely blew me away. They'd created the perfect environment: dimmed air conditioning, natural soundscapes of babbling brooks and birdsong, all while I melted into an infinity chair set to the ideal relaxation temperature. Despite being only my first set, I nearly drifted into unconsciousness. Round two called for the nuclear option: the 110°C Oni Sauna. The heat was absolutely merciless. With automatic löyly waves continuously crashing over me, my body went into full crisis mode—I couldn't form a coherent thought beyond survival. This is sauna at its purest essence. After pushing my heart rate to its absolute limit, I plunged into the 9°C arctic bath. That 110-degree temperature differential hit like a lightning bolt—my blood vessels contracted so violently I couldn't suppress a yelp. Thirty seconds was all I could endure. While there's beauty in slowly easing into cold water, there's something deliciously addictive about the instant-freeze shock of single-digit temperatures. Another session of "indoor air bathing" sealed the deal. Three complete cycles flew by in what felt like moments. After changing and settling into the relaxation area, my mother and grandmother emerged with the most blissful expressions imaginable. Everyone around us radiated that same post-sauna glow. Saunas and cold plunges truly are the ultimate tools for achieving inner peace and pure exhilaration. And it was still only noon—perfect timing for a delicious meal before heading home.