I called a taxi from "Yurax" and headed to "Yuya Suizen Luxury Sauna & Spa." In the car, I had a lively conversation with the driver. Driver: "Sir, did you enjoy Yurax?" I: "Yes, it was absolutely fantastic. It was the perfect sauna to end 2025." Driver: "I thought so. Actually, I'm a regular there too. Since it's open 24 hours, I always go after my taxi shifts. When I take customers to Yurax, I often wish I could join them, haha." I: "If I lived in Kumamoto, I would definitely go every day." Driver: "Haha, you're quite the sauna enthusiast. By the way, the hotel we're heading to now is also excellent. It has a different concept from Yurax, focusing on luxury. It's a bit pricey, so it's less crowded. Well, you'll understand its charm once you enter. If you're staying overnight, you can enjoy it both at night and in the morning. Please enjoy your stay. Have a great trip." I: "Thank you!" With that, I got out of the taxi at my destination. I was now in front of the entrance of the long-established inn "Matsuya Annex" in Kumamoto. This hotel houses the "Yuya Suizen Luxury Sauna & Spa." After checking in, I placed my luggage in the Japanese-modern guest room and decided to explore the surroundings. Just a short walk from the hotel was "Suizenji Park," where I enjoyed a stroll through the beautiful garden. From there, I wandered through the bustling area near Kumamoto Castle and returned to the hotel, ready to head to the sauna. "Yuya Suizen Luxury Sauna & Spa" was located on the second floor of the hotel. As I exited the elevator, I was greeted by beautiful Japanese-style objects, leading to a luxurious space. There was a lounge where you could enjoy Kumamoto tea, natural water from Aso, and coffee for free, and next to it was a coworking space. If possible, I'd love to stay here for a week and work. As I moved further into the lounge, I saw the entrance to the men's bath. Passing through the noren curtain, I found a row of impeccably clean lockers. I quickly organized my clothes and proceeded down the corridor to the bath. The corridor felt like walking through a restaurant hallway. Entering the large bath, the layout was such that the right side was an outdoor air bath space, the center had a radium hot spring and cold plunge bath, and the sauna was in the back left. At the moment I saw the sauna, I was speechless. The sauna, made entirely of cypress wood, was nothing short of beautiful. The walls and benches were crafted from thin wooden planks, showcasing the meticulous attention to detail and dedication of the craftsmen. Additionally, a rocky stove was installed in the center of the sauna room, piled with a large number of sauna stones. It was designed so that you could perform a self-löyly by pouring the facility's original aroma water over the stones. Furthermore, the entrance side of the sauna room was entirely glass-walled, making it visible from both inside and outside. With such a wonderful sauna, this sense of openness seemed fitting. I felt like showing off myself meditating in the designed sauna to those outside. The tension of being watched straightened my back, motivating me to have a high-quality experience. Look at me. Unusually, I felt open. However, despite wanting to show off, at that time, I was the only one in the large bath. It was unexpectedly a private experience. Was it okay to indulge in this luxurious sauna alone? Was such extravagance permissible? Of course, it was. I was encouraged to enjoy it to the fullest. Come on in. I felt like the sauna was calling me. As if drawn in, I entered the sauna room, where the scent of cypress and aroma mingled, enveloped in crisp heat. The room temperature was about 100°C, a relatively high setting. I sat on the cypress-lined bench, captivated by the heat and the sauna's beautiful design. Each piece of wood was arranged in perfect order. After a while, I performed löyly by pouring aroma water over the sauna stones. The citrus scent spread throughout the room with the steam. Each time, I took deep breaths through my nose, indulging in solitude. What a luxurious time it was. After the sauna, I entered the cold plunge bath, lavishly using natural water from Aso. The water temperature was around 18°C. At this moment, I experienced a sensation I had never felt before. Alone in the private space, I floated slowly in the cold plunge bath, feeling my heart rate gradually settle. It felt as if I wasn't in the water but rather a part of it. The soft underground water enveloped me, as if it was rejuvenating me. After the cold plunge bath, I moved to a dedicated relaxation space. Here, too, there were various setups to guide you into deep relaxation. In the dark and quiet space, four chairs were lined up, each separated by partitions, creating a completely private space. There was no need to worry about someone being next to you. In your own space, you could focus entirely on yourself and relax. Just like the cold plunge bath earlier, it felt as if the space wasn't there for me, but I was a part of the space. For the second sauna session, I laid a bath towel on the seat and decided to lie down for the sauna bath. Since it was spacious and no one else was there, I could enjoy it lying down even if someone came. I love entering the sauna while lying down. It offers a completely different sensation compared to sitting. First, I performed a self-löyly to generate a large amount of steam, fanning it with a towel like an aufguss, filling the room with the aroma. Then, I lay down on the bench and slowly closed my eyes. The sensation of my body, cooled in the cold plunge bath, relaxing in the sauna room. After a comforting feeling, sweat gradually began to pour out. The heat spread evenly throughout my body, warming me from head to toe at the same pace. I sat up and finished with another self-löyly to further raise the perceived temperature. When I reached my limit, I headed straight to the cold plunge bath. Once again, feeling the joy of becoming one with the water and my body, I cooled down my body heated in the sauna. After that, I moved to the ultimate relaxation space. By the time I completed these two sets, another guest finally entered. It was miraculous to have been able to monopolize the beautiful space. Feeling grateful, I lost track of time and added one more set. That concluded my sauna activities for the day. As I mentioned earlier, it might have been the first time I experienced the sensation of becoming one with water and space. It feels like I've climbed a step as a professional sauna enthusiast. Until now, I had felt comfort and relaxation, but I had always perceived myself as an independent entity, never as a part of the space. It was an unparalleled fortune to have experienced this sensation during my last sauna trip of 2025.

Now, after the sauna, it's time for a delicious meal. Since it's the last trip of the year, I decided to indulge in horse meat dishes at the hotel's restaurant. I sat at the counter alone and ordered a selection of premium horse sashimi and horse meat shabu-shabu. I started with the horse sashimi. Personally, horse meat is my favorite among all meats. It lacks the greasiness of fat and has an irresistible texture, like eating an athlete's meat. I also indulged in the elegance of dining at the counter and praised myself for working hard throughout the year. After the meal, I returned to my room and enjoyed "Brown Sugar Donut Sticks," a famous confection from Kumamoto, and green tea as dessert. As I watched TV, drowsiness overcame me. It's about time to sleep. Tomorrow, I plan to enter the morning sauna at 6 AM. I'll sleep soundly and prepare for tomorrow's activities. Feeling joy at the prospect of enjoying the sauna in a wonderful space again tomorrow, I fell asleep with a grin on my face.