Ajigaura Onsen Nozomi
Hot springs (温泉"onsen" in Japanese) are numerous in Japan, and for centuries the Japanese people have enjoyed bathing in hot springs. Visits to hot spring resorts are believed to be not only a means of relaxation but also beneficial due to the properties attributed to thermal spring water.
Hot springs are still major attractions for vacationing Japanese, and many have been modernized and developed into large-scale resort complexes.
Ibaraki is not famous for its onsen, but with a little patience and accurate information, you will be able to relax for a few hours or an entire week-end at an onsen.
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One of these is "Ajigaura Onsen Nozomi" in Hitachi-naka. It may not be in the most beautiful setting (you can see Hitachi Port from the roof) but it's a lot of fun and easy to get to by public transport on the Ibaraki Kotsu Minato line (get off at the end of the line, Ajigaura Station).
The train line itself is very cute, just one carriage and the driver collects the tickets at the station. You can connect to it from Katsuta Station (JR Jōban Line). When we got off at Ajigaura Station, we wondered where we were! Around the station is nothing but a few houses and a lot of rice fields. For some reason it made me feel like I was in the anime movie "Spirited Away". But after finding a small sign that pointed in the direction of Nozomi, we were off on our way. The onsen is only about 5 mins walk down a small hill and a narrow path.
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The area of Ajigaura looks like it used to be very popular back in the "day". I am not sure when the "day" was, but maybe about 30 years ago. The town is bit run down, but the onsen itself looks brand new.
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You can't miss it either. The building is shaped like what I can only describe as a castle. Lots of bricks and I even think there is a torrent on the roof!
Before going into the bath, you can also enjoy fresh sashimi and sushi at the restaurant. Sets start from 900 yen and the sashimi-don that I ate was very delicious. The place was packed too. We had to wait 20 mins just to get a table. You pay right at the end by showing your locker key.
But what you all want to know about is the watery wonderland. The baths include 2 indoor baths and a number of outdoor baths such as a cypress bath, aromatherapy bath, cave bath, barrel bath, feng shui bath and more. There are also 2 different types of sauna. They are all very new looking and clean.
Just explaining it like this does not do the onsen justice. You really have to see it with your own eyes. The experience of visiting Nozomi is not just the baths, but the atmosphere. The castle like exterior, the feng shui theme and crazy statues, its pure kitsch, but oh so much fun! Check it out for yourself.
Entry fees are as follows:
Weekdays (till 5 p.m.) - 900 yen
(5 p.m. - 10 p.m.) - 700 yen
Weekends and public holidays (till 5 p.m.) ? 1,150 yen
(6 p.m. - 10 p.m.) - 900 yen
Friday is "Ladies day" and entry is 500 yen
You can get more information on their website
http://www.ajigauraonsen.jp/
TEL 029-265-5541
FAX 029-265-5691
The people behind the check in desk are very friendly and some of them speak English.
Like most onsens, people with tattoos will be turned away.