Fugaku hot-spring Hana-no-yu — Hotel in Fujinomiya

OK, so me & my climbing group got taken here when a typhoon cut short our Fuji ascent. It's a nice place, but if this your first onsen, it can be a bit intimidating. So, let me break it down for you.||||1) You check in, and get a bag with some robes in it, plus a little bracelet thingie and a room key on a long stick kind of deal. You'll notice men get blue, women orange.||2) Likewise, there are two doorways off the lobby: one with blue curtains, one with red. Again, male and female. Don't get 'em mixed up.||3) When you get to your room, you may notice a panel next to the light switches with a little red light that says "IN". That's your cue to stick the long stick the room key came on into the hole. Otherwise the room lights won't work. Had to have them explain that to me.||4) When you're ready to check out the bath, change into the robes, grab your towel, and tromp down to the changing area beyond the appropriate curtain. The number on your bracelet is your locker number. The key to the locker is hidden inside the bracelet (I found it easier to push it out if you turn the bracelet inside out --you'll see what I mean).||5) Undress, take the towel, and lock everything else up. There's a door to the main bathing area in the corner.||6) First things first, off to the side are some shower stations--look like little cubicles with stools and that. Wash yourself good and clean before going in to the water. ||7) There are a couple pools inside and outside, be sure to check both areas out. Just soak for a few minutes in each case, as the water is around 110 F.||8) When you're done, be sure to stop by the place by the door with the big ladles and rinse yourself off before going back into the locker room (you'll see other folks doing it).||9) Your bracelet is also how you make purchases at the vending machines. There's a scanner inside, so you just swipe it while still on your wrist and it gets added to your tab.||10) That's basically it, really. Just be quiet and respectful of the rules, and have a good time. Onsens are relaxing as heck, it turns out.||||It's a nice place overall, so far it's the only one I've ever been to, but it's pretty decent. Not the Ritz or anything--actually, kind of put me in mind of the old Catskills resorts from back in the day. Clean and comfortable, and a nice friendly staff even when working through a...

OK, so me & my climbing group got taken here when a typhoon cut short our Fuji ascent. It's a nice place, but if this your first onsen, it can be a bit intimidating. So, let me break it down for you.||||1) You check in, and get a bag with some robes in it, plus a little bracelet thingie and a room key on a long stick kind of deal. You'll notice men get blue, women orange.||2) Likewise, there are two doorways off the lobby: one with blue curtains, one with red. Again, male and female. Don't get 'em mixed up.||3) When you get to your room, you may notice a panel next to the light switches with a little red light that says "IN". That's your cue to stick the long stick the room key came on into the hole. Otherwise the room lights won't work. Had to have them explain that to me.||4) When you're ready to check out the bath, change into the robes, grab your towel, and tromp down to the changing area beyond the appropriate curtain. The number on your bracelet is your locker number. The key to the locker is hidden inside the bracelet (I found it easier to push it out if you turn the bracelet inside out --you'll see what I mean).||5) Undress, take the towel, and lock everything else up. There's a door to the main bathing area in the corner.||6) First things first, off to the side are some shower stations--look like little cubicles with stools and that. Wash yourself good and clean before going in to the water. ||7) There are a couple pools inside and outside, be sure to check both areas out. Just soak for a few minutes in each case, as the water is around 110 F.||8) When you're done, be sure to stop by the place by the door with the big ladles and rinse yourself off before going back into the locker room (you'll see other folks doing it).||9) Your bracelet is also how you make purchases at the vending machines. There's a scanner inside, so you just swipe it while still on your wrist and it gets added to your tab.||10) That's basically it, really. Just be quiet and respectful of the rules, and have a good time. Onsens are relaxing as heck, it turns out.||||It's a nice place overall, so far it's the only one I've ever been to, but it's pretty decent. Not the Ritz or anything--actually, kind of put me in mind of the old Catskills resorts from back in the day. Clean and comfortable, and a nice friendly staff even when working through a...

This place saved my trip to Fujinomiya. My reason for going there was to visit the Mt Fuji Heritage Centre but it was closed! If you want to visit this spa then stop reading if you have tattoos. It's clear at reception, and from posters around the spa, that visible tattoos are not tolerated. Those of us who haven't treated our bodies like derelict shopping precincts and graffitied all over them are very welcome. The outside looks like a council run sports centre that needs a thorough refurbishment but don’t let this put you off. Once inside (and you take your shoes off) then you are in an oasis of calm. Full day rate was Y1600 but there is an 80-minute ticket for Y900, don’t pay the lower fee and try and stay all day. If you get a day ticket you are issued with a very comfortable jacket and trousers for use in the communal areas. There are clear rules around behaviour in onsens / spas and washing before going in the baths; if not familiar do a bit of research. There are six large baths, three inside and three outside (two hot, dead sea, flower infused, sulphur and, my favourite, the carbon dioxide enriched bath). There are also some small, individual baths that have various infusions. In the dead sea (high salt) bath be careful of any cuts or skin abrasions as they will sting. I had about an hour in the bath then went for lunch at the excellent, and reasonably priced, restaurant. I took advantage of the lounge area to let my lunch settle then went back to the bath for another couple of hours. I finished my day with a beer and read in the lounge area again, making use of the massage chairs. Overall, this was a very relaxing day, a perfect break between Tokyo and Kyoto and I highly...