[Transport] About a 10-minute walk from Musashi-Koyama Station on the Tokyu Meguro Line
[Fee] 450 yen (Sauna costs extra)

Since it looked like the renovations at Musashi-Koyama Onsen were finally finished, I decided to head over right away. On this day, there was a pretty big “omikoshi” (portable shrine) out at the intersection—it’s the local summer festival. Well, Musashi-Koyama Onsen was renovated even more beautifully than I had imagined. I tried to get in a bit early to avoid the “human soup” crowds before the festival finished, but it was already incredibly popular.

In addition to the classic “Kuro-yu” (black water) that looks like cola, they seem to have tapped a new source called “Kogane-no-yu” (Golden Water). This water is a super salty sodium-chloride strong salt spring with a brownish color. Between the high salt content and the lukewarm temperature, it has a slightly thick, lovely feel to it. I liked it so much I think I soaked in it for quite a long time.

The Kuro-yu, which used to be so hot you could hardly get in, has been adjusted to a nice, comfortable temperature. It feels a bit silky when you enter and refreshing when you get out—it’s really nice water. The area with the Golden Water and the small Kuro-yu tub is designed as a semi-open-air bath, so the ceiling is open, letting you see the sky and feel a pleasant breeze.

The atmosphere was so good that for a moment, I completely forgot I was in “Musashi-Koyama” and felt like I was really away at a hot spring resort. I finished off the bath with a classic Ramune soda.