「New Japan Umeda」 - A Visit

That day, after relaxing at 'Arima Onsen Taikou-no-yu' in the morning, I was taking a nap in the facility's reclining room. After the sauna and a delicious meal, I surrendered to drowsiness and drifted into dreamland. When I woke up, it was around 3 PM. The nap had restored my energy. I was already thinking about which sauna to visit next. From Arima Onsen, both Kobe city and Osaka are easily accessible. I felt drawn to Osaka. One facility came to mind: 'New Japan Umeda,' the birthplace of Japan's capsule hotels. It's one of Osaka's premier saunas, even featured as a setting in the drama 'Sa-do.' With my destination decided, I booked a hotel in Osaka city and drove from Arima to Osaka. I arrived at the hotel in about an hour. After checking in and entering my room, I was hit by a musty smell. It seemed to be coming from the air conditioning - clearly not cleaned properly. The unit bath also smelled moldy. It was slightly concerning, but such things are common on spontaneous sauna trips. I decided to forget about it. Five minutes after check-in, I was already in a taxi. 'To New Japan Umeda, please,' I told the driver. We arrived within minutes. New Japan Umeda is located right in the heart of Umeda Higashidori, a street bustling with izakayas and entertainment establishments. I walked through the noisy street with a composed face until finally spotting the entrance. After checking in, I headed straight to the large bath area. New Japan Umeda's bathing facility spans three floors, each equipped with saunas and cold baths. First, I moved to the washing area on the second floor to cleanse myself. Then I headed to the Finnish sauna on the same floor. The room was filled with the soothing scents of vihta and wood. I took a deep breath. The musty hotel smell was instantly purified. I performed self-löyly and meditated. Fortunately, I was alone - it was all to myself. The Finnish sauna really makes you sweat beautifully. When I reached my limit, I exited the sauna room. Right next to it was a 16°C cold bath - perfect flow. After rinsing off the sweat, I entered the cold bath. Exquisite refreshment enveloped my body. The sensation was so incredible that I couldn't help but let out a sound. After the cold bath, I surrendered to a reclining chair just about 10 steps away from the cold bath. This flow was also perfect. When I closed my eyes, I felt like my consciousness might drift away. Arima Onsen in the morning, New Japan sauna at night - what a blissful day. A man about my age gave me suspicious looks as I sat there grinning to myself, but I didn't care at all. For the second set, I went down to the first floor and entered the high-temperature sauna. Auto-löyly began after a few minutes. The steam from the sauna stones felt wonderful, with a pleasant citrus aroma. While I love the scents of vihta and wood, I'm also fond of the aromatic waters that each facility crafts with such care. Upon exiting the sauna room, I faced a choice between two cold baths: 14°C or 18°C. I chose 14°C without hesitation. In this cold bath, water cascaded down the wall. I leaned against the wall, receiving the water like a waterfall meditation. The refreshment was incredible. After the cold bath, I headed to the dedicated relaxation area. It was like a poolside setting with multiple chairs arranged. Since there weren't many people, I could sit without waiting. I closed my eyes slowly and couldn't move for about 5 minutes. Next was the final set. I moved to the third floor to try the Finnish sauna cabin, but it appeared to be full. I'll save that for next time. So I went back down to the second floor, to the same Finnish sauna filled with vihta and wood scents from my first set. Once again, I had it all to myself. I performed self-löyly and faced myself. I focused on my breathing and felt my heartbeat. I was reaching my limit. After rinsing off the sweat, I entered the cold bath. My heated body cooled rapidly. I was enveloped in tremendous refreshment. New Japan Umeda - truly formidable. After the sauna, it was time for delicious food.

Moving to the lounge and looking at the menu, I found a lineup perfect for post-sauna dining. Probably anything I chose would be delicious. After much deliberation, I ordered the 'Stamina Rice' and 'Miso Katsu.' They were exquisite. I closed my eyes and nodded while chewing, feeling the joy of being human. Even if I were told my life would end in one minute, I could say it had been a life without complaints. That's how much happiness I felt. The only nagging thought was that I'd have to return to that musty hotel afterward. Next time, I'll stay at New Japan. With that thought, I took a taxi back to the hotel.