Indoor water parks?

Yumoto in Iwaki is known for its hot springs or Onsens. It is also known for Spa Hawaiians. Iwakis very own indoor water park. The whole idea is a little sketch for me, but it turned out to be an interesting experience.

Today Logan,Kristin and our Japanese friend Masako went to Spa Resort Hawaiians. Its about $40 to enter so I wouldn't have gone, but we had free passes. Inside this hotel/dome like building are water slides, a lazy river, a sports pool, Pacific themed stages with live culture shows, restaurants, hot springs and about a trillion Japanese people. It seems that this is THE place to go for families on weekends.

It was like any other water park really except smaller because of its indoor location and the small size of Japanese people. I even managed to get through the whole day without seeing one of my students (a big fear of mine).

The water park was pretty neat but the highlight of my day was one of the onsens (even though I didn't have a modestly towel). It was the most traditional hot spring baths that I have ever seen. It was partly indoor and outdoor and used all the traditional onsen tools. We didn't sit on plastic buckets to shower rather we poured water of a specific temperature over out bodies with wooden ladles when we entered and exited the pool. The bottom and edges of the pool/bath were large rocks to lean against or sit on. The breeze of fresh air added to this authentic Japanese bathing experience. There was a wooden steam room, with various herbs in the steam. It was so beautiful and I wanted to take pictures but cameras are forbidden for obvious reasons. Here is the URL for pictures of the Onsen. Its actually Japans largest open-air bath, called Edo Jowa Yoichi. I would go back again just for this.

http://www.hawaiians.co.jp/english/02park/yoichi.html

I give Spa Resort Hawaiians (mostly Edo Jowa Yoichi) a big thumbs up!