Yukari Onsen, Chofu, Tokyo

http://www.shiroyama-gr.co.jp/yukari/

Yukari Onsen is designed to be a relaxing day out for tired Tokyoites.

With lots of space and gardens to relax within, this is a great find less than 20 minutes from bustling Shinjuku.

The waters in the many baths of Yukari Onsen are a rich red black, and are slightly salty. The effect on the skin is cleansing and purifying, as is the experience itself.

There are many baths to choose from, all with little nooks and crannies so one can be as social or reserved as you might enjoy.

Inside, there is a large hinoki bath overlooking the garden. Here you will also find the washing area, fully equipped with top of the range skin, body and hair care products. The sauna is also inside, or you can order a massage from the front desk.

Outside is where the choices really begin.

A beautifully designed outdoor bath is complemented by a deep cut coloured stone encrsusted cold bath. It looks like a princesses playground, and it is hard to belive that as an ordinary human you can bathe in such beauty.

A small rotunda holds another hinoki bath, from where you can see stairs leading up into the deep green of the maple forest. You might also notice a deep red glow below the stairs, ebbing in the darkness.

Either of these paths leads you to different baths, and experiences. The red glow unfolds a deep cave bath, the dark waters reflecting the rich red walls. The steam lofts up to the ceiling, and the occasional splash of drips from the condensation provide a lovely soundscape for thought.
The stairwell leads to a hinoki bath high in the trees. From every vantage there are varieties of deep green. Tall, healthy maples dance in the breeze, and after the hectic sights of Tokyo life, such abundant greenery is a bath for the eyes.

Access

Yukari is easy to get to, as there are free shuttle buses operational from Chofu Station North Exit or Musashi Sakai Station South Exit. Buses run to and from Yukari at half hour intervals throughout the day.