Tamagawa Hot Spring, Tokigawa, or the mouthful that is their full name 昭和 レトロ な 温泉銭湯玉川温泉 ~ Showa Retro Naonsen Sento Tamagawa Hot Spring. A hot spring by the award winning hot spring management company Onsen Dojo. Hereafter Tamagawa Hot Springs for short. Occasionally with the Retro in front, just because its a word I happen to like!
Tamagawa Hot Spring
Down a winding country road, tucked in the leafy shadows of the natural woods of Tamagawa Country Club, Tamagawa Hot Spring Tokigawa defies its natural tranquil surroundings with a buzz of continuous activity. Even first thing on a Monday morning the car park is full. There are local registered cars, but also ones from outside the prefecture and much further afield. To my delight there are even several camper vans in the car park. Real ones, with real campers, not just for the Retro throwback image!
Inside the hot spring is packed, with barely room to pass the dozens on the corridor. The atmosphere is electric. I can hear the muffled sounds of 1960s songs coming from the second floor. I know instantaneously by the crackled back track and passionate delivery, just slightly off key, that it is Karaoke. Upon investigation I confirm my suspicions – old school karaoke; a stage and mike and big old karaoke machine at the front of a tatami mat eating and rest area. Wonderful! Between that, the average age of the clientele and the Showa paraphernalia and decorative style, it was like stepping into a different era.
Showa Retro Hot Spring
The Showa retro vibe is evident from the minute you park your car. You can see the little display outside the main entrance with an old three wheel van, much like the one in Only Fools and Horses, an old bicycle and a Showa period post box.
The Showa retro theme continues inside with so many Showa relics its like a museum rolled into the spa facility. The sweet shop is very popular especially with the older generation who can find goods from their childhood on sale. Even the canteen serves meals reminiscent of last century’s typical servings.
Teru Teru Bozu
Can you spot the Teru Teru Bozu (in this case towels that look like ghosts)!? In Japan, they are believed to be a talisman that bring good weather. Thus, throughout the rainy season Tamagawa Onsen has dozens of Teru Teru Bozu hanging.
The hot spring and baths
There are two hot spring areas in the retro onsen. Akira No Yuu and Nagomi no Yuu. Akira is the kanji for the Sho of Showa and Nagomi is the kanji for the wa of Showa. Within each there is an indoor ofuro (bath) and a rotemburo (outdoor hot spring).
They rotate the spas between men and women’s week on week. When I visited it was the ladies turn for Akira No Yu. This is the “beauty” spa as they call it. I am tempted to go back next week to see Nagomi for myself. Even if I don’t make it next week, I hope to visit this hot spring frequently when I am hiking in the area.
Mud pack
A service of the hot spring is you can treat yourself to a mud pack. They leave out mud, with instructions in Japanese, to lather yourself in. You leave it on for ten minutes before thoroughly rinsing it off.
Facilities
- Cafeteria
- Restaurants
- Reading area
- Relaxation area
- Massage chairs
- Hammocks on the deck
- Toys for kids
- Baby bath for babies and toddlers to use
- Karaoke on weekdays, transformed into a kids play area on weekends
- Massage (for an extra charge)
- 1960s type sweet shop
- Take away hot spring water ⇊
Take Away Hot Spring Tokigawa
There is another onsen hot spring stand in Tokigawa that is quite famous. But the hot spring vending machine | coin operated hot spring | hot spring pump | hot spring stand | take away hot spring water in Tokigawa is of the highest quality. (Read on to find out why!) For 200 yen you can take home 18 liters of the water, provided you have something to put it in that is. Cainz sell plastic water containers entirely for this purpose.
Tamagawa Hot Spring – Saitama’s Best
Recently Tamagawa Hot Springs cleared a Kanto regional competition and were chosen to proceed to the finals of an All Japan ofuro competition Ofuro Koshien. Along with Cafe Bivouac they will represent Saitama. It is the first time an ofuro in Saitama has made it to the national competition. Both Tamagawa Hot Springs and Cafe Bivouac are owned by Onsen Dojo (Hot spring Dojo), which have a total of five spa “cafes” and one glamping site in Saitama prefecture.
Quality of Water
But its position in an esteemed bathhouse competition is not why the hot spring is zestful today, or any other day. One of the main reasons the hot spring cum sento cum bath cum spa draws the crowds is for the quality of its water. The 10.1 ph value of this strong alkaline spring pumped from the ancient Chichibu paleozoic strata 1700 meters below.
Tamagawa Hot Spring Popularity
Then there is its location. In the retiree dominant town of Tokigawa. Of its 11000 residents, more than half of them are over 50 years old. With the greatest concentration of the population in the 65 to 69 year old age group. Source. Add to that the town’s appeal for a rural experience just 90 minutes from Tokyo, with camp and barbecue sites, and its proximity to several hiking and cycling courses, you see why there is a constant flow of customers.
Event News
Santa Claus will be visiting the hot spring from 2 pm on Christmas Day, Sunday December 25th 2022, and he’s bringing presents! This is a free event for patrons of the hot spring.
Tamagawa Hot Springs Information
Name in Japanese: 昭和 レトロ な 温泉 銭湯 玉川 温泉 (Showa Retro Naonsen Sento Tamagawa Hot Spring)
Address: 3700 Tamagawa, Tokigawa-machi, Hiki-gun, Saitama-ken 355-0342
Phone: 0493-65-4977
Hours: on weekends from 5 am to 10 pm and on weekdays from 10 am to 10 pm. Last entry is at 9.30 pm. Food is available between the hours of 11 am and 9 pm.
Cost: 830 yen per adult on a weekday, 880 yen on weekends. On weekends they have discounts in the early morning and late at night. Primary school aged children cost 400 yen and preschoolers 200 yen regardless of whether it is a weekday or not.
Towel rental: 220 yen. Massage: upwards of 1800 yen.
The featured image of lanterns in the sento are from an official source. Official website
Onsen Dojo Baths, Hot springs and leisure facilities in Saitama
Onsen Dojo are an award winning hot spring management company who own hot springs and related leisure facilities all over Japan. At the time of writing this they own / manage the following hot springs and facilities in Saitama:
- Cafe Bivouac
- Comoriver
- Opark Ogose (formerly Youpark and Little Indian Village)
- Cafe Utatane
- Oforo Cafe Hakujyu
- Tamagawa Onsen
The Tamagawa Hot Spring Tokigawa is the only one of Onsen Dojo’s facilities that is a Showa themed hot spring in Saitama.
Nearby:
Ranzan lavender festival is about a 7 minute drive from the Tamagawa Hot Spring:
Ahahahaha the hot spring vending machine! MUST. SEE. I’ve been a longtime follower (even though I don’t have kids) and am so delighted that you’re posting more again. Saitama has so many overlooked attractions, and it’s close enough for a day trip, but you’re the only insider I know who winkles out the really good ones. Many thanks, and I’m looking forward to more delights (and honest commentary ww) to come.
Thank you so much Jonelle. I really appreciate it. I too have been reading your blog on WP Reader for quite some time, but through topics rather than directly through your site’s address. So I added your address today 🙂 I love how colorful your blog is and how true you are to your blog’s name. 🙂
Thanks again for your support and reaching out <3
hot spring water from a bowser? Now I’ve seen it all!
Bowser – new word for me, had to look it up. I like it, going to have to slide it in somewhere!