Before I realized it, I was standing directly in front of the entrance once again. We humans are creatures fatally susceptible to supreme pleasure—once we taste transcendence, we become helplessly drawn back to its source. You tell yourself "this is absolutely the last time," but the moment that bliss touches your consciousness, resistance crumbles and the cycle begins anew. Gambling, narcotics—these are the obvious culprits. But saunas and hot springs wield the same intoxicating power. Experience perfect totonou just once, and it colonizes your thoughts completely. My weekday identity as a systems engineer becomes mere camouflage—beneath the professional facade, I'm perpetually fantasizing about saunas and cold plunges, plotting my next thermal pilgrimage. And somehow, inevitably, I find myself standing before another hot spring sanctuary. Arima Kaido Onsen Suzuran-no-Yu represents one of those dangerously addictive destinations. My previous visit had revealed something extraordinary: not just exceptional hot springs, sauna, and cold plunge quality, but an entire philosophy of human-nature integration realized through authentic forest gardens. Most facilities arrange potted plants and decorative trees to "simulate" nature—cheap theatrical tricks. Here, you commune with genuine wilderness while completely naked and vulnerable. You feel wind currents carrying forest secrets, attune to insect symphonies and the eternal music of flowing spring water, inhale the primal aromatherapy of earth and living wood. Close your eyes, surrender to heightened sensory awareness, and watch daily fatigue and mental clutter dissolve layer by layer. This place offers genuine communion with something larger than yourself. Recalling that previous euphoria threatens to crack my carefully maintained composure—I can feel an involuntary grin trying to surface. But public dignity demands perpetual cool sophistication. Never reveal vulnerability or weakness. The only acceptable moment for complete surrender is when you're naked and immersed in thermal waters. I complete check-in with practiced nonchalance and proceed to the bathing sanctuary. First ritual: cleansing with the legendary Miyamizu waters. Even the shower experience transcends ordinary expectations—this isn't municipal tap water but sacred spring water flowing from the showerhead. Each droplet feels impossibly gentle, silk-soft against skin. The simple act of cleansing becomes a happiness meditation. Following my purification ritual, I ease into the indoor natural spring bath. What mysterious alchemy makes Arima-style hot springs so devastatingly effective? The instant immersion triggers complete muscular surrender—gravity seems to vanish as weightless bliss envelops every cell. The pleasure is so intense I can't suppress a satisfied grin. A fellow bather, perhaps forty years old, settles into the springs and after several minutes of soaking, exhales an involuntary "Ahh, this is absolute perfection!" His sentiment mirrors my own exactly—some experiences demand vocal acknowledgment. As thermal saturation reaches optimal levels, I migrate toward the outdoor Finnish sauna. Vihta bundles await at the entrance—I perform the traditional body-tapping ritual, inhaling their forest essence before entering the heat chamber. This sauna offers self-löyly capabilities with perfectly calibrated humidity for deep, purifying sweats. Upon emergence, the pièce de résistance awaits: an extraordinary cold plunge blending sacred Miyamizu waters with natural spring minerals. The pool's generous dimensions eliminate waiting—I rinse my sweat offering and plunge into liquid silk. The softness defies description—like being embraced by liquid velvet. No municipal water cold plunge could ever approach this transcendent quality. At precisely 17°C, the temperature creates perfect equilibrium for extended immersion without shock or discomfort. You could float here indefinitely, suspended in liquid meditation. Such cold plunge perfection remains extraordinarily rare. The spring water blend delivers dual benefits: rapid cooling plus mineral absorption through every pore. This double-action therapy—legendary water minerals plus therapeutic spring elements—creates almost supernatural healing power. But the ultimate revelation still awaits: outdoor air bathing where human consciousness merges with forest consciousness. Multiple reclining chairs positioned strategically beyond the cold plunge offer front-row seats to nature's theater. Fortune grants me immediate seating. I recline completely and close my eyes in meditative surrender. Evening's arrival awakens the bell cricket orchestra—their crystalline songs create the perfect soundtrack for transcendence. Rokko Mountain breezes caress exposed skin while concentrated olfactory attention reveals layer upon layer of forest aromatherapy. I inhale deeply, drawing wood essence and earth wisdom directly into my being. Ten minutes of pure totonou unfold in that reclining sanctuary. The first cycle delivered such overwhelming satisfaction that two sets felt complete and perfect for this evening. My sauna philosophy rejects rigid protocols—while three cycles provide my general framework, I honor whatever my body and spirit request in the moment. Sometimes two cycles achieve perfection, other sessions demand five. Authentic wellness means listening to internal wisdom rather than external rules. Now, with supreme totonou achieved, the evening's culinary chapter beckons.

My dining destination had crystallized with absolute certainty. A brief drive from Arima Kaido Onsen Suzuran-no-Yu toward Minotani Junction reveals the familiar signage of my chosen sanctuary. Tonight, once again, Aobazono—a traditional teishoku restaurant that has captured my complete devotion. Stepping inside, I'm greeted by wonderfully animated energy: loyal regulars nursing drinks while cheering a live Hanshin Tigers broadcast. I claim the table directly across from this spirited gathering and request my usual ginger pork set meal. This establishment has earned my profound affection through a perfect storm of factors. During my inaugural visit, the owner's genuine warmth created instant belonging, while the cuisine delivered flavors that lingered in memory for weeks. The abundance of devoted regulars speaks volumes—both culinary excellence and atmospheric magic inspire that precious "I must return" sentiment. My ginger pork set meal arrives with ceremonial timing. Supreme thermal therapy combined with exceptional cuisine creates what I consider a narcotic-level combination—dangerously addictive in its perfection. The first bite triggers full-body goosebumps as flavor explodes across taste receptors made extraordinarily sensitive by my sauna journey. Gratitude floods my consciousness with overwhelming intensity. Sauna and cold plunge experiences deliver immediate bliss, but their magic extends far beyond the moment of immersion—waves of happiness continue radiating for hours afterward. Tonight I feel profound appreciation for this entire constellation of blessings: access to thermal sanctuaries, exceptional cuisine, and the serendipitous discovery of remarkable establishments like this one. Settling my bill, I offer the same parting words as my previous visit: "Absolutely delicious. I'll definitely return." The staff will need several more encounters before recognizing me as a regular, but that milestone feels inevitable and approaching rapidly. With these warm thoughts accompanying me, I point my car toward Shikoku and home. Another perfect sauna pilgrimage reaches its natural conclusion.