I Looked Into Kaiun no Yu

This blog keeps looking into day-use hot springs and lodgings for those days when, after staring at my camping gear, I end up thinking "maybe a hot spring instead of a tent today." This post is another one of those side-trip entries.

This time I looked into Kaiun no Yu in the Kawaguchiko area. I'd seen the tagline "the inn with an open-air bath" somewhere before, and between that and the auspicious-sounding name, it had been on my radar for a while, so I decided to dig in and put together a proper summary.

What Kind of Place Is Kaiun no Yu?

Kaiun no Yu is apparently a day-use hot spring facility located inside Royal Hotel Kawaguchiko in Fujikawaguchiko Town, Yamanashi Prefecture. It seems to be situated about 5 minutes by car from Kawaguchiko Station, right near Oike Park.

One thing I personally found great is that there's a free shuttle service between the facility and Kawaguchiko Station. It looks like advance notice is required, but the ride takes about 5 minutes each way, and apparently it runs for pickups from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM and drop-offs from 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM. Pickup and drop-off only happen at Kawaguchiko Station, with no stops along the way, which seems just right for someone like me who mostly gets around by train. As someone who doesn't drive, having a shuttle option like this makes a destination feel a lot more realistic.

As for opening hours, the official site doesn't list specific times, instead noting that hours vary by day and asking visitors to check by phone. It seems like a good idea to inquire in advance before visiting. There doesn't appear to be a fixed closing day, aside from occasional maintenance closures.

• Price (hot spring only, 2 hours): 1,000 yen for adults, 800 yen for children (ages 0–12)
• Price (hot spring plus paid private room, 3 hours): 5,000 yen for adults, 3,000 yen for children (the private rooms accommodate 2–30 people and apparently require reservations)
• Towels: face towels available for purchase at 350 yen, bath towel rental at 500 yen
• Parking: free, with space for around 60 cars, and it seems day-use visitors can use it too

I couldn't find anything on the official site clarifying whether reservations are needed just for the hot spring itself on a day-use basis. Since the paid private rooms apparently require reservations, it might be worth calling ahead if you're concerned about crowds on a particular day.

Komorin

Having a free shuttle really helps. As someone with a driver's license I never actually use, I definitely want to keep researching places like this.

Checking Out the Baths and the Indoor-Friendly Facilities

Apparently there are four baths total, two each for men and women. One is described as a "granite indoor bath," and the other as a "garden-style open-air rock bath." The source water is said to be around 40 degrees Celsius, and the open-air bath is apparently intentionally kept a bit cooler so you can soak for a long, relaxing time. There's also a mention that on quiet nights you can hear the sound of waves from the lakeshore, which gives a good sense of the atmosphere.

The water is apparently alkaline, with a temperature of around 40 degrees Celsius. Beyond being good for the skin, it's also said to be effective for neuralgia and muscle pain. I couldn't find any mention of a sauna on the official site, so I wasn't able to confirm whether one exists. If you're planning a visit specifically for a sauna, it's probably worth calling ahead to check.

The bath amenities apparently include body soap, shampoo, conditioner, and hair dryers. The facility also has a front desk, a self-check-in system, and a shop (open from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM). There's also a restaurant called Kaiuntei, which apparently offers Japanese-style set menus for both dinner and breakfast, though reservations are required. That said, it wasn't clear from the official site whether day-use bathing guests are able to use this restaurant.

The site mentions that Oike Park is right nearby, and general search results also suggest that the Yamanashi Gem Museum, the Kawaguchiko Herb Museum, a pebble-themed museum, and the Kawaguchiko Toy Museum are all fairly close by (this isn't stated on the official site itself, just general surrounding information). There also seem to be hoto noodle restaurants nearby, so stopping by one after a soak sounds like a nice plan.

Rakuten Mobile Signal Conditions

When I checked this facility's location using the official My Area Connectivity Simulator, the overall rating came back as "C."

Since it came back as a C rating, it's probably a good idea to check your own connectivity situation ahead of time. It might not matter much if you're just planning to relax in the bath, but if you're thinking about making calls or watching videos, I'd recommend checking for yourself in advance, just to be safe.

Komorin

Since the result came back as a C rating, it's probably worth checking in advance on days when connectivity matters to you. If the hot spring itself is your main focus, this should at least give you a useful reference point.

Wrapping Up

Putting it all together, my impression of Kaiun no Yu is that it's a day-use hot spring where you can enjoy both a granite indoor bath and a garden-style open-air rock bath, complete with a free shuttle service, making it an easy place to visit even without a car.

There were a few things, like the operating hours and whether the restaurant is available to day-use guests, that seem worth confirming by phone. Still, the easy access from Kawaguchiko Station felt like a real draw. Since the Rakuten Mobile signal came back rated C, anyone concerned about that might want to check the official tool beforehand.

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Related Links

• Official Site