Amazing Hot Spring Bath Of Inubousaki

"Pure ocean, pure relaxation, pure life"

Inubousaki Kankou Hotel

Inubousaki Kanko Hotel (photo credit: Masataka Ishizaki).

Chiba Kun Ambassadors wrapped out the final tour of the year at Inubousaki Kankou Hotel. No, we were not there to stay overnight, but to dip ourselves into its famous natural hot spring, more commonly known in Japan as onsen (温泉). Public bathing in hot springs is a popular activity in Japan, especially during the cold winter season. Soaking in a hot spring is one of the most enjoyable ways to initiate deep healing and rejuvenation of body, mind and spirit.

I have to admit, when I first came to Japan, I never felt comfortable about the idea of getting naked in front of strangers and taking a bath. Having brought up in an environment like Malaysia, this practice is considered very awkward. Therefore, I never tried the onsen in Japan, until I entered my third year living in Japan.

The hot spring for legs outside the hotel (photo credit: Masataka Ishizaki).

Very well furnished lobby, which offers a wonderful view of the beach and ocean.

You can catch the sight of Inubousaki Lighthouse from the hotel, which I visited two years ago.

And trust me, that was one of the best decision I have ever made. I instantly fell in love with onsen. Winter is the time I eagerly wait each year, because this is the time of the year where I will usually pay multiple visits to the hot spring place. To most of my friends who have not tried it, just give it a try. After all, onsen is probably the only place where you can go naked in the public, yet not get caught by the law hahaha!

Back to the onsen of Inubousaki, it is not like any other usual onsen because here, filtered and treated sea water are used in the hot spring bath. Besides Inubousaki Kankou Hotel, there are three other hotels around this area that offers similar experience to the visitors, namely Inubousaki Hotel (犬吠埼ホテル), Hotel New Daishin (ホテルニュー大新), and Gyokeikan Hotel (ぎょうけい館ホテル).

 The entrance to the guys' hot spring bath room.

Part of the certificates that recognise the high quality of the hot spring in this hotel.

What makes these hotel popular among the visitors is the exclusive experience to enjoy the beautiful ocean while dipping into the hot spring. Also, visitors who stay in the hotel will have the rare experience to watch the sunrise early in the morning while they dip themselves in the hot spring. The sunrise in Inubousaki by the way, is the earliest in Japan, which makes it a famous spot on New Year's Day, because everyone would come here to catch the first sunrise of the year.

For beginners, I will briefly explain about what you usually do once you walk pass that cloth that hangs over the entrance. 

1. First of all, take off all your clothes in the changing room. When I said all, I mean all. Everything. Put your clothes in the locker, basket, or on the shelf. If you are using public facilities, make sure not to leave any valuables in unlocked areas. Small lockers for valuables are often available.
2. Enter the bathroom with a small towel and your amenities. I am not sure about the ladies, but for guys, the little towel we have is usually enough to cover the critical section. Before getting in the bathtub, scoop out some water from the bathtub using a bucket and rinse your body, or rinse your body using tap water in front of faucet.     
3. Wash your body or hair and rinse off soap and shampoo well before you get in the bathtub.
4. Get in the bathtub. It is proper etiquette in public facilities not to put a towel in the bathtub. Just leave it on the side of the bathtub, or simply place it on your head.
5. Rinse your body with tap water in front of faucet. Dry your body with your small towel before you enter the changing room. Please remember not to drain the bathtub water when you are finished unless you are told to do so.
6. Dry your body with your bath towel and dress in the changing room.

No photograph is possible inside the hot spring. So this is how this wonderful place looks like. (Note: The lady is not part of the package).

There are eight types of different bath tub in Inubousaki Kankou Hotel, three each for the guys and ladies, one private bath tub and one at the entrance which is called ashiyu (足湯) for the legs. There are two kinds of bath tubs for the guys and ladies, inside and outside one called rotenburo (露天風呂). Needless to say, the one outside is the most popular as visitors get to enjoy the breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean while dipping their body in the hot spring. It was indeed a very relaxing experience after our long day tour.

This is one of the place where you will to want to miss out when you visit Inubousaki. And I am already planning my next trip here, because the weather is still cold.

We were given a complementary ice cream after our hot dip.

One last group photo of the Chiba Kun Ambassadors before we head back to Chiba (photo credit: Ayako Uchiyama).

|| INFORMATION ||

Inubousaki Kankou Hotel (犬吠埼観光ホテル)
Opening hours: 12:00 - 19:00 (closed at 20:30)
Price: 1,000 yen (adult), 600 yen (children) from Mon to Fri; 1,200 yen (adult), 800 yen (children) for Sat, Sun and national holidays.
Mio Tsukushi Private Bath (澪つくし貸切温泉)
Opening hours: 12:00 - 20:00 (reservation required)
Price: 3,150 yen (for 2 person for 50 minutes)
※ Price may vary depending on number of people and day. Please contact directly for details.
Tel: 0479-23-5111 (09:00 - 20:00)
Parking: Available
Website: http://www.inubou.co.jp (Japanese only)
Address: 10293, Inubousaki, Choshi-shi Chiba Prefecture, 288-0012, Japan.
Access:
① Train: From JR Choshi station (JR 銚子駅):
# Choshi Dentetsu (銚子電鉄) (20 minute-ride) (for Togawa station 外川行き), get down at Inubo station (犬吠駅).
② Car:
# From Tokyo (東京): Kanto-Higashi Expressway (関東東自動車道), exit Itako IC (潮来 IC), take Route 124 to Route 356 via Choshi Ohashi Bridge (銚子大橋) (approximately 1 hour) to Choshi・Inubousaki.
# From Tateyama・Kamogawa (館山・鴨川): From Tateyama・Kamogawa to Chiba Ichinomiya (千葉一宮) via Route 128 (approximately 60 minutes), then head to Kujukuri Beach Line (九十九里ビーチライン) via Kujukuri Paid Road (九十九里有料道路) approximately 30 minutes, then head to Choshi・Inubousaki (銚子・犬吠埼) via Route 126 (approximately 50 minutes).
③ Express bus: From Hamamatsucho bus terminal (浜松町バスターミナル) to Tokyo station Yaesu Exit (東京駅八重洲口)
# Board bus for Inubo (犬吠行き), bus ride takes approximately 2 hours.

Fresh Sumptuous Seafood From Choshi

"The treasure house of fresh seafood 

from the Pacific Ocean."

Choshi city of Chiba

The restaurant where the Chiba Kun Ambassadors had our lunch.

Choshi is a fishing port located in the eastern most tip of Chiba prefecture. The city, which has its three sides surrounded by the ocean, is located in a region with mild climate and many tourist spots and has developed as a port town since ancient time. Choshi fishing port is proud to have the highest catches in Japan for three consecutive years since 2011.

The highest catch in Choshi fishing ports is iwashi or sardine. During the raining season in June, the sardine caught are known as nyubai-iwashi (入梅いわし) for its richness in delicious fats during this time of the year. There are also sardine festival during this season when various stalls offers a wide variety of cuisine made of sardine.

You can tell this is a popular restaurant based on the reviews it got from famous celebrities who had dined here before (photo credit: Masataka Ishizaki).

The first floor of the restaurant, which has a huge aquarium in the middle.

A board that welcomes the arrival of the Chiba Kun Ambassadors.

A magnificent dining hall, where we get to enjoy the breathtaking view of the sea while having our meal.

Besides that, Choshi is also famous for its high quality red snapper or kinmedai (金目鯛). Just like sardine, the locals also hold a festival for this fish annually during summer. It is estimated that this festival attracts approximately 20,000 visitors every year to try on the freshly caught seafood. It makes me wonder, it must be lucky to be a fish in this city lol!

We dropped by one of the many restaurants which line along the coastal beach of Choshi to have our lunch. Ichiyama Ikesu is a restaurant which specialises in seafood. The Chiba Kun Ambassadors had the privilege to dine at the private room on the second floor, which offers a magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean. On the first floor, there is a huge pool called ikesu (生け簀) or aquarium, where diners get to enjoy the living sea-creatures while enjoying their meal.

 Our sumptuous lunch set.

With Tridat, who others think we look like brothers lol!

The first dish was fresh sashimi, which has tuna (まぐろ), Olive flounder (ヒラメ), octopus (イカ), and shrimp (エビ). The second dish was tenpura, which consists of tiger prawn and bell pepper stuffed with meat. The next dish was some kind of fish cooked with soy sauce, which tasted really good. And to complete the meal was a hot bowl of lobster miso soup.

My honest verdict - the food here was not bad but what was special about this restaurant is the fact that diners get to enjoy the beautiful scenery outside while having their meal.

Having a group photo outside the restaurant after our satisfying lunch (photo credit: Ayako Uchiyama).

|| INFORMATION ||

Ichiyama Ikesu (一山いけす)
Opening hours: 11:00 - 15:30 (lunch time); 16:30 - 20:00 (dinner time)
Tel: 0479-22-7622     Fax: 0479-22-7624
Parking: Available
Address: 7387-5, Kurohai-cho, Choshi-shi, Chiba Prefecture, 288-0003, Japan.
Website: http://www.ichiyamaikesu.co.jp/ (Japanese only)
Access:
① Train: From JR Choshi station (JR 銚子駅):
# Take Chiba bus (千葉交通バス) (20 minute-ride) (for Kurohai・Ashikajima 黒生・海鹿島方面), get down at Tonbiiwa bus stop (とんび岩停留所), 1 minute by foot.
# Choshi Dentetsu (銚子電鉄) (20 minute-ride) (for Togawa station 外川行き), get down at Kasagamikurohae station (笠上黒生駅), 15 minute by foot.
# Taxi (15 minute-ride) for approximately 1,300 - 1,500 yen.
② Car: From Tokyo
# Kanto-Higashi Expressway (関東東自動車道), exit Sahara・Katori IC (佐原・香取 IC), take Route 356 to Choshi station (approximately 1 hour), and then to Ichiyama Ikesu (10 minutes).
# Kanto-Higashi Expressway (関東東自動車道), exit Itako IC (潮来 IC), take Route 124 to Route 356 via Choshi Ohashi Bridge (銚子大橋) (approximately 1 hour), and then to Choshi station, and then to Ichiyama Ikesu (10 minutes).# Keiyo Road・Togane Road (京葉道路・東金道路), exit Matsuoyokoshiba IC (松尾横芝 IC), take Route 126 to Choshi Inubosaki (approximately 1 hour), and then to Ichiyama Ikesu (5 minutes).
③ Express bus: From Hamamatsucho bus terminal (浜松町バスターミナル) or Tokyo station Yaesu Exit (東京駅八重洲口)
# Board bus for Inubosaki Hotel (犬吠埼ホテル行き) or for Choshi・Inubosaki (銚子・犬吠埼行き), get down at Kosoku Kurohai (高速黒生); bus ride takes approximately 2.5 hours and one-way ticket costs 2,500 yen.