After completing a morning sauna at BadenGarden in Tokorozawa, I enjoyed a coffee at a nearby café and then made my way to Higashikurume Station. From there I headed to Spadium Japon, one of Japan's largest spa complexes. I took a taxi from Higashikurume Station and, after a short drive, the destination came into view. It is a 3-story, stadium-shaped building, enormous like a baseball stadium. Since the facility's name includes Spadium, I expected a stadium-like vast space where people can enjoy the hot springs and relax together. Visiting in person, I was amazed by the scale. All of this is a spa facility—what kind of view would be hidden inside? I felt excited. The instant I arrived, however, I could hardly believe my eyes. The entrance to Spadium Japon is on the 3rd floor, and there was a long line stretching down to the 1st floor. Even famous restaurants rarely see lines this long. I dislike standing in lines, so for a moment I considered leaving, but I quickly remembered I had plenty of free time. Waiting even 1 hour posed no problem. I joined the end of the line and waited to enter. After waiting about 1 hour, my turn finally came. Entering, I was struck by the spacious interior. In the open area, several eateries lined up and many guests were eating, relaxing in chairs, or simply letting time pass as they pleased. Everyone looked very happy and relaxed. They were seeking healing even if it meant waiting in line. In that sense, the potential of Japan's hot springs and saunas feels truly limitless. When people are tired, they seek hot springs and saunas. At last I went to the baths. Spadium Japon operates under the catchphrase renowned natural hot spring water, and the standout features are the natural hot spring, the cold plunge baths, and the saunas. In particular, the water comes from the same source as the spring water in Higashikurume, which is the only water in Tokyo selected as one of the 100 Famous Waters of the Heisei Era, so I was especially curious how refreshing the cold plunge would be. First I purified myself and slowly soaked in the natural hot spring. The water seemed carbonated—tiny bubbles clung to my body and within just a few minutes I felt warm. After the warm-up I headed to the sauna. The sauna fits about 30 people and has 5 tiers. Sitting on the top bench I felt powerful heat. The humidity was very high, and the room was filled with a pine aroma. It smelled so good I wanted to keep breathing it in. The size, heat, scent, and high humidity of the sauna all combined perfectly, meeting the conditions of a great sauna. There is also an automatic löyly every 10 minutes, which is wonderful. The löyly keeps the humidity high and brings that pine aroma each time, which is just perfect. After the sauna I headed to the cold plunge baths. What kind of refreshment would this famed water provide? There are two cold plunge baths at 12℃ and 16℃, and I started with the 16℃ bath. As expected, it had the particular refreshment unique to a high-quality cold plunge. I have experienced top-class cold plunges across the country, and Spadium Japon definitely earns a place among them. A top-quality cold plunge offers a different kind of refreshment than one filled with ordinary tap water. It felt as if I had stepped into minty water—a cool, tingling sensation on the skin—and the pleasant feeling lingered for a while after leaving the plunge. As living creatures, our bodies naturally respond to good-quality water. Next came the outdoor rest. The outdoor bath area at Spadium Japon is excellent, and because the weather was very nice that day, I nearly dozed off several times while sunbathing in a lounge chair. I continued repeating sauna and cold plunges absentmindedly, and before I knew it I had completed 5 sets. The hot spring, sauna, cold plunge baths, and outdoor bath were all high quality, and I could understand why people would come even if they had to wait in line.

After feeling great from the sauna, I wanted a delicious meal, but the restaurant was crowded and eating alone felt a bit lonely. With families, couples, and groups of friends all having a good time, eating alone takes some courage. I know no one is watching, and I shouldn't worry about it, but it still bothers me. A counter-seat place that makes solo diners feel welcome would be nice. Since the restaurant felt completely like unfamiliar territory, I decided to eat elsewhere. I took the shuttle bus to Shiki Station and had a meal at a nearby ramen shop. Now the sauna trip was entering its second half and the final night was approaching. Tonight I planned to stay in Asaka City, Saitama Prefecture, to visit a certain facility. From my preliminary research, I expected it might be the best sauna facility in Saitama Prefecture. The facility is called Asaka Sauna Nagomi.