On Friday (yesterday), after much internal struggle, I decided not to embark on a trip. Typically, my sauna trips start on Friday nights. The idea is to begin the journey right after finishing work. However, this week, even by evening, I was still in contact with clients, and my own tasks remained unfinished. To start the trip on Friday and make it worthwhile, I needed to finish work by 5 PM at the latest. However, I only managed to finish by 6:30 PM. On Friday, I went to a local sauna and welcomed Saturday morning. After a morning walk and having breakfast while watching a drama, I felt like I might end up wasting time idly. It's very easy to do nothing. No actions, no decisions. Spending the 48 hours of the weekend like that is also a way to spend time. I've spent many weekends like a zombie. However, spending time like that doesn't rejuvenate the mind. There's a difference in energy when you return from a trip compared to when you don't. I forced myself to switch gears and got into the car without thinking. The destination was already decided, so I got on the highway and headed towards Kyoto. This time, it was a Kyoto sauna trip. The first stop was "Sagano Onsen Tenzan no Yu." They use their own natural hot spring water, which is drawn from 1,200 meters underground, in a free-flowing manner, and they have well-equipped saunas and cold plunge baths. The term "free-flowing natural hot spring" is very appealing. It's a precious act of directly experiencing the blessings of nature. Many facilities offer hot springs through circulation filtration, but those adopting the free-flowing style are very rare. That's why I chose this facility to start my Kyoto sauna trip. Upon entering the large bath, the pleasant scent of cypress wafts through the air. Immediately to the right is a large sauna room. Beyond the double doors, a spacious area unfolds. I was convinced it was a good sauna. But first, I decided to slowly soak in the natural hot spring to warm up. I moved to the open-air area and soaked in the golden-colored hot spring. Gradually, I felt my body relax, enveloped in a sense of calm. The hot spring continuously flows into the bath, allowing me to directly savor the blessings from 1,200 meters underground. Now, let's enter the sauna. Inside, there's a spacious area that could easily accommodate 50 people, with two METOS iki stoves standing majestically. Even one stove is luxurious, but having two is impressive. The pleasant scent of wood fills the air. The size, temperature, humidity, and aroma were all to my liking. After warming up for a while, it was time for the 1 PM aufguss, and two staff members entered. After introducing themselves, they poured aromatic water onto the two iki stoves. That day, it was grapefruit aroma, and the refreshing citrus scent quickly filled the sauna room. Then, they fanned each person with a large fan. When I reached my limit, I thanked the staff and left the sauna room. The cold plunge bath is conveniently located right outside the sauna room. The temperature is an ideal 16°C, and it's quite deep. I slowly immersed myself up to my shoulders, allowing my body, heated by the aufguss, to cool down thoroughly. After the cold plunge bath, I sat on a chair in the open-air area for an outdoor air bath. Just a short while ago, I was on the verge of becoming a recluse at home, but thanks to my decision to leave the house, I discovered this wonderful facility. I repeated the sauna → cold plunge bath → outdoor air bath routine for the second and third sets, achieving a state of perfect relaxation. I was also getting hungry, so I decided to end it here and have a meal.

"Sagano Onsen Tenzan no Yu" also has a spacious restaurant within the facility, with counter seats available for solo visitors. While looking at the menu, I ordered simmered sea bream. As I enjoyed the delicious meal, I realized something—I hadn't booked a place to stay for the night. I had forgotten in my rush to leave the house. While browsing hotel booking sites, a familiar name caught my eye. The nationally famous "Manyo no Yu." If I stayed at "Hotel Kyoto Eminence," I could enjoy unlimited access to the hot springs for 24 hours. Perhaps because it was a same-day booking, the price was reasonable, so I immediately made a reservation. With that, my accommodation for the night and the location for my evening sauna activities were decided. The next destination is "Hotel Kyoto Eminence."