[Access] About 40 minutes by bus from Senzu Station on the Ōigawa Railway (As of December 2023, a bus operates from Ieyama to Senzu on the Ōigawa Railway)
[Website] Sunmatakyo Town-operated Outdoor Bath “Bijozukuri no Yu” (Japanese)
About ten years ago, when I visited Sunmatakyo Onsen, I was unfortunately unable to see the emerald green “Dream Suspension Bridge”. I had always wanted to return, and even though the weather was not great on Saturday, it was beautifully clear today, so I rented a car and headed to Sunmatakyo.
To warm up my chilled body after walking to the “Dream Suspension Bridge”, I decided to choose a hot spring. While I considered going back to Suikōen like last time, I found out that there is a town-operated outdoor bath, so I decided to check it out.
After paying at the entrance, I was immediately in the changing room, and the only bath available was the outdoor bath, which was quite simple. The greenery around was beautiful, and I thought it would be nice to relax without anyone else around. However, as soon as I stepped in, I almost slipped and fell! I remembered that the onsen water at Suikōen was also slippery, but this was on another level of slickness. The rocks in the water were incredibly slippery and smooth, making it hard to sit comfortably. At first, I thought it was dirt in the onsen water, but it didn’t seem to be the case.
Additionally, there was a fairly strong sulfur smell. I feel like it’s rare to find a sulfur spring with such a texture, making it quite interesting. The smoothness of the water truly lived up to its reputation as a bijyozukuri “beauty-enhancing” bath.
The water temperature was 43 degrees Celsius, with a pH of 9.1, classified as a simple sulfur spring. The total mineral content was 635.6 mg/kg, so it wasn’t overly concentrated. However, the temperature felt just right, and the balanced mineral content made it a perfect place to relax.
From a distance, the “Dream Suspension Bridge” appears to be hanging over a beautifully blue river. However, on this day, it was incredibly windy, making it quite frightening to be on the bridge. The strong winds likely stirred up the muddy riverbed near the bridge, mixing the brown and blue colors together. It seems that I have an unfortunate connection with this bridge.
On the way from the Sunmatakyo hot spring town to the “Dream Suspension Bridge”, I stopped by the cafe “Seiko Uduku”, which had a tempting array of baked goods. I bought some matcha-flavored baked treats as souvenirs. There was also a tatami room with a wood stove in the back, creating a cozy atmosphere, so I thought I might come back for tea next time.
Since I was driving, I also visited a spot to see the famous Oku-Oi Lake Station from a distance. The sight of the red iron bridge over the deep blue lake, with a leisurely red train passing over it, was indeed photogenic. It must be even more beautiful during the autumn foliage season. Next time, I’ll challenge myself to see the stunning “Dream Suspension Bridge” again during the autumn leaves.