「Megumi-no-Yu」 Experience Story

Throughout my sauna journey, I've visited countless facilities. Among them, the places that make me think "I absolutely must come back!" possess extraordinary features you can't experience anywhere else. Megumi-no-Yu in Kakamigahara City, Gifu Prefecture, has that intense appeal with "Japan's finest herbs," and after actually visiting, I seriously considered moving to Gifu Prefecture. Living in Kakamigahara and organizing my weekly sauna routine with this dreamlike rotation would allow me to stay in this city until I die. Monday: Ogaki Sauna Tuesday: Megumi-no-Yu Wednesday: Ogaki Sauna Thursday: Megumi-no-Yu Friday: Ogaki Sauna Saturday: Megumi-no-Yu Sunday: Megumi-no-Yu On this day, after enjoying the flowing groundwater cold bath at Kyoto's "Hakusanyu Rokujo Store" in the morning, I drove two hours to reach Gifu Prefecture. I traversed Shiga Prefecture through Otsu → Kusatsu → Maibara, entered Gifu Prefecture, then crossed it through Yoro → Ogaki → Kakamigahara. Arriving around 4 PM, I checked into my hotel first. Turning on the TV, the Chunichi Dragons game was broadcasting. It appeared to be the retirement game for pitchers Okada and Sofue. Pitcher Takahashi Hiroto was delivering passionate pitches to honor their retirement ceremony. While I wanted to watch the game, I had somewhere I needed to be. Megumi-no-Yu was waiting for me. After a 15-minute drive, I arrived at Megumi-no-Yu. The exterior I'd seen in sauna magazines came into view. Entering through the entrance, the entire facility was filled with herbal aromas. At this point, my sense of smell was completely captivated. Despite being a hot spring facility, Megumi-no-Yu operates its own herb garden. They cultivate over 30 varieties of herbs there, blending them seasonally for use in the bathhouse. The facility even has an attached research laboratory where they test which herbal combinations provide the deepest relaxation effects on the human body, consulting with doctors. Through such corporate dedication, we can enjoy the finest herbs they've developed. Furthermore, herbs aren't limited to the main bath area. The facility's restaurant serves herb-infused cuisine, and you can purchase original products like herbal bath salts and seasonings. Searching nationwide super sentos, you won't find another establishment providing self-cultivated herbs. Regarding herbs, this is undoubtedly Japan's number one facility. Suppressing my excitement with great effort, I headed to the main bath. The spacious changing room was also filled with herbal aromas. Entering the bathhouse revealed an expansive, liberating space. What immediately caught my eye was the flowing groundwater cold bath. Yes, this place also uses flowing groundwater. Moreover, Megumi-no-Yu's water quality is uniquely different—it's a blend. A luxurious flowing combination of Mount Ibuki's underground stream water and groundwater. Posted water quality test results showed far richer mineral content than commercial drinking water. Additionally, the bath is spacious with no waiting for the cold plunge. It even says diving is OK. This is incredible. The abundant flowing groundwater constantly overflows, allowing fresh water to continuously pour in—making this possible. What kind of facility is this? Even beyond medicinal herbs, isn't this top-level in Japan? I could no longer suppress my excitement, and I hadn't even bathed yet. I sat in a shower booth to cleanse myself. Looking closely, even the shampoo and body soap appeared to be original facility products. Taking some in my hands and smelling it, wonderful herbal aromas wafted up. After thoroughly washing my entire body, the time had finally come to enjoy the baths. I decided to head straight to the sauna. After all, Megumi-no-Yu's specialty is the "Fresh Herb Löyly Sauna." You can enjoy löyly with fresh herbs harvested from their own farm. The moment I entered the sauna room, I was enveloped in herbal aromas. Luckily, automatic löyly began just one minute later. Massive amounts of water poured over the sauna stones, and through that steam, herbal aromas spread throughout the entire room. What kind of sauna is this? Even during löyly, I could breathe deeply through my nose and enjoy the fragrances. The sauna room itself was magnificent. The spacious room that could hold about 40 people had a TV but no sound. No one was talking in the sauna room either. Additionally, steamer-like equipment was installed to manage the sauna room's humidity. They've considered preventing air from becoming too dry. Furthermore, the sauna walls were excellent. Typical saunas often have 90-degree angles between seating and walls. However, Megumi-no-Yu's sauna has angled wall surfaces, allowing you to lean back deeply. I was moved by how incredible the person who designed this facility must be while enjoying the sauna. After the sauna, I rinsed off sweat and dove headfirst into the flowing groundwater cold bath. Absolutely incredible. The water temperature was probably around 18°C. Natural water cold baths always provide me with profound emotion. Why is it so incredibly mellow? I could stay in forever. I think I stayed for about 3 minutes. Since the cold bath is spacious (over 10 people can enter simultaneously) with no waiting, you can soak leisurely for as long as you want. After chilling my body to the core, I went to the outdoor area for air bathing. It felt so good I completely lost consciousness. Beyond the pleasure of sauna and cold bath, being healed through my sense of smell by herbal aromas was a major factor. I was in another world for a while, but my consciousness barely returned. Then I caught a faint scent of "mugwort." Following the aroma, I found a lying bath area where you could enjoy a blend of natural mugwort and herbs. I lay down in an available space. Instantly, mugwort aromas took control, and all strength drained from my body. A lying bath is a bathtub where you can soak while lying down, but this was by far the most pleasant lying bath experience of my life. The exquisite temperature, dimly lit quiet space, sounds of flowing water, mugwort and herbal aromas—I nearly lost consciousness while soaking in the bath. Of course, this was my first experience of nearly losing consciousness in a bath. Is this what ultimate relaxation feels like? I wanted to head to my second sauna set soon, but I couldn't leave the lying bath. I couldn't even sit up. I barely managed to stand and sat in a nearby chair, overwhelmed by the incredible sensation. The autumn breeze hit my steamed body from the lying bath, bringing another moment of totonou. I realized that at Megumi-no-Yu, you can create a unique set routine. Fresh herb sauna → cold bath → air bathing for totonou, then mugwort lying bath → air bathing for another totonou. I decided to make this one set and enjoy about three more. I ended up enjoying a total of 4 sets over approximately 2 hours. This might have been the first time I'd relaxed so deeply and enjoyed bathing for such an extended period. I left the main bath in the most incredible mood. I was tremendously hungry. Based on my research, Megumi-no-Yu's restaurant also has high ratings, offering several dishes that luxuriously use their self-cultivated herbs. After enjoying herbal baths, I decided to savor herbs through food as well and headed to the restaurant.

I debated between curry and fried chicken set meal but decided on the fried chicken. The fried chicken used five different herbs, each with distinct flavors and aromas. It was incredibly delicious and perfect for post-sauna energy replenishment. For dessert, I ordered "Fresh Herbal Tea," but this herbal tea was so exquisite it left me speechless. The preparation process was also wonderful. After receiving the order, they go to pick herbs from their own farm, selecting the best herbs available that day. I intended to enjoy the aroma before drinking, but I'd never experienced such wonderfully fragrant herbal tea in my life. Just enjoying the aroma alone was worth the price. Tasting it, the flavor was as magnificent as the aroma, with herbal essence permeating every cell in my body. Furthermore, since herbs promote blood circulation, my body gradually warmed as I drank. I could actually feel blood flow improving as if I were soaking in hot springs. This was also a first-time sensation. Following my personal rule of purchasing items at facilities that truly move me, I bought a Megumi-no-Yu original strap and herbal salt. I left Megumi-no-Yu and returned to the hotel after 9 PM. While reading at the hotel, perhaps due to the herbs' relaxing effects, drowsiness struck along with a floating sensation. I placed the book beside my bed and turned off the room lights. I lost consciousness immediately. Tomorrow is the final day of my "Kyoto-Gifu Sauna Trip." My destination is already decided. This will be my second visit. The destination is 30 minutes by car from Kakamigahara City. That facility, also called a sacred ground, is named "Ogaki Sauna." To be continued.