Whether you can have an ideal experience at a facility you visit is something you can more or less predict the moment you pass through the noren at the entrance. In my case, I build that prediction from the atmosphere the moment I step inside, the pleasant aroma, the staff's kind attitude, the clean and well-maintained interior, and even the clientele. I try to gauge whether it will be a wonderful experience. That said, while there are many such high-quality facilities, I have lost count of the times I was let down the instant I walked in. Unfortunately, this visit fell into the latter category. After finishing a morning sauna session and some shopping for daily necessities in Kyoto, I drove all the way to Ibaraki, Osaka Prefecture. I had passed through the city by train before, but this was my first time actually setting foot there. Still, since I was traveling by car, there was no real sightseeing to speak of. The destination, Saito Natural Hot Spring Sumire no Yu, was a place I had discovered during a recent search. I was very much looking forward to its free-flowing natural hot spring water and löyly sauna. That said, an experience that matches your expectations is never guaranteed, so my usual approach is to have a backup destination ready just in case. I parked in the lot and went inside. The instant I entered, I could feel an unpleasant smell invading my nostrils. To the right of the entrance are the shoe lockers, and a foot odor was lingering throughout that area. Even around reception, there was a slight odor. I spent 5 seconds thinking it over. Should I keep going, or turn back? From experience, I knew that if I felt something off at the moment of entry, the experience at that facility would not be ideal. But since I had come all this way, I still wanted to enjoy the bath and the sauna. In the end, I checked in as planned and headed to the large public bath. Since I had already done a morning sauna session, I took a light shower and moved straight to the open-air bath. What I had come for was the free-flowing natural hot spring water said to rise from 1,000 meters underground. As I lowered myself into the golden-colored water, the temperature was slightly lukewarm and extremely relaxing. Soaking in a high-quality natural hot spring lets you feel your body gradually loosening up. At the same time, you can feel warmth spreading from deep within your body. Before long, I started to feel as if my condition was steadily improving. Japan has a culture of toji, or therapeutic bathing, and there is no doubt that hot springs invigorate the human body. To be able to enjoy a free-flowing hot spring in a city like Osaka is a wonderful feeling. After fully recharging my body in the hot spring, I finally headed to the sauna room. Once inside, the air felt dry. In other words, there was not enough humidity. After a while, an automatic löyly service was performed. I hoped this would improve the humidity, but because the amount of water was too small, the steam was weak and the humidity did not rise. What a waste. If they added more water and increased the humidity, it would undoubtedly become a great sauna. After working up a sweat in the sauna, it was time for the highlight: the cold plunge bath. The wall was lined with binchotan charcoal, with water flowing down from it. When I got in up to my shoulders, the water temperature was 16℃, which was perfect. I felt the sauna itself was lacking in quality, but this cold plunge bath was cold and refreshing. That said, the space is only large enough for about 3 people, so there may be a wait during busy times. After getting out of the cold plunge bath, I took a breather in the open air, but given the sauna room's setup, I no longer felt like doing any more sets. On a sauna trip, the best thing is to honestly follow your intuition and your body's reactions. I decided, without hesitation, to end my sauna activity at this facility after just 1 set.

What began with a sense of unease the moment I entered ended with me wrapping things up after just 1 set, but that is part of the reality of traveling. You cannot have an exquisite experience at every facility. That is exactly why the moments of awe stand out when you do encounter something truly wonderful. I quickly got ready and headed to my next destination. I already knew where I was going: Gempi Onsen Banpaku Oyuba, near Expo '70 Commemorative Park in Suita, which is also easy to access from Ibaraki. It is a super sento with an incredibly open-air bath and 2 saunas where löyly is possible. My sauna journey for the day is not over yet. My intense day is about to begin a new chapter once again.