A hot spring village 60 seconds from the ticket gate. A story about the sauna at "Kabe Onsen Ume-no-Yu" and a new companion to protect your hair.

Hello, this is Captain Frog, a solo sauna enthusiast.

Do you ever have those moments where you think, "I want to drop everything in my daily life right now and dive into a hot sauna and a real hot spring"? I have them all the time. Especially on evenings after a day of working my brain to the limit, my mind starts to sizzle and cry out for the heat of a sauna room.

However, I don't have the time to go on a long trip, and getting tired from the travel would defeat the whole purpose. There is a perfect oasis on the Ome Line in Tokyo that grants the wishes of such selfish solo sauna enthusiasts, literally in a location "right outside the ticket gate."

That place is "Kabe Onsen Ume-no-Yu."

■ An authentic hot spring space appearing in a prime location in front of the station

After passing through the Kabe Station ticket gate and walking for just one minute on the pedestrian deck, you are drawn into a building where a magnificent Japanese-style space unfolds, making you forget that you are right in front of the station.

Ume-no-Yu's greatest weapon is, above all, its overwhelming accessibility and the "authenticity-oriented" quality that seems to contradict that location.

Once you step into the bath, you are greeted by an alkaline simple hot spring boasting a pH of 8.6. The "skin-beautifying water" with its smooth, viscous texture gently wraps around your entire body. After warming up thoroughly in the indoor bath and heading out to the open-air area, an open atmosphere spreads out, and a luxurious "Hinoki (cypress) bath" sits there. At this point, half of your daily stress melts away into the steam.

■ A punchy, hot, golden flow that won't let sauna enthusiasts down

However, the real show starts here for me.

The sauna room at Ume-no-Yu is a high-power far-infrared tower sauna that doesn't disappoint. As soon as you step inside, a pleasant, heavy heat hits your body all at once. Since there are distinct levels, it's a nice feature that you can change the height you sit at to match your physical condition that day and adjust for the best amount of heat. While staring blankly at the TV, a deep sweat is gradually, but surely, encouraged.

After being steamed to the limit, a well-chilled, deep cold water bath awaits. Once your body is tightened up, you head straight to the cooling-off space in the open-air area. The moment the clear breeze of Ome brushes against your skin, your brain reaches the pinnacle of "totonoi" (the state of deep relaxation). There is a silence and sense of openness there that makes it hard to believe the station platform is right nearby.

The peace of mind that comes from not having to worry about the train schedule until the very last minute makes the solo sauna time even more luxurious.

■ The sauna is great. But, I've always been concerned about "dry, frizzy hair"

After doing several sets in the sauna and soaking in the hot spring, my mind and body are completely satisfied. ...Or so it should be, but isn't there a moment when you are brought back to reality while drying your hair in front of the mirror in the changing room?

"Huh, my hair feels kind of coarse..."

Yes, the intense heat and dryness of a dry sauna cause more damage to our hair and scalp than we think. Especially for enthusiastic sauna-goers who visit frequently, this "post-sauna dry hair problem" is something we tend to face.

While I am grateful for the shampoo provided at the facility, when your hair has been stripped of its moisture, the exhilaration after the bath is diminished just a little. As a hardcore sauna enthusiast who even tests the durability of a smartwatch in the sauna room, I have recently come to believe that "post-sauna hair care" is exactly where I should be investing.

That is why this is the secret weapon I have recently been keeping in my sauna bag.

👉 Organic Hair Care Travel Set Designed Exclusively for Sauna Lovers]

This is a convenient, travel-sized set of organic shampoo and hair oil formulated with heat-protecting ingredients that shield hair from sauna heat damage. Just by using this before entering the sauna and immediately after getting out, the manageability and shine of your hair after blow-drying will change dramatically.

Above all, the natural herbal and woody scent that wafts through the air while cooling down or after the sauna makes the lingering sauna experience even deeper. It is truly a reward item for the mature sauna lover. There is also a trial set perfect for shopping sprees right now, so if you are concerned about dry hair, please check it out.

■ Read the rest on my main blog!

After being completely refreshed in the sauna, the best finish awaits you at the facility's restaurant, Umeozakitei, where you can fill your stomach with cold beer, Oropo, and their famous sauna meals.

For more detailed information on the sauna room temperature, cold bath settings, Captain Frog's specific routine, and a food report on the sauna meals from this Ume-no-Yu expedition, I talk about it even more passionately on my main blog, 'Captain Frog's Pastime'.

It is a complete strategy guide to enjoying the top-tier station-adjacent 'Ume-no-Yu' to 120%, so please come visit via the link below!

👇 Read more on Captain Frog's main blog

https://m-yuuhuku03.com/kabe-onsen-umenoyu-sauna/

I hope today's report serves as a reference for your next sauna trip. If you think, 'I want to try going to Ume-no-Yu!' or 'I want to try that hair care product!', please tap the heart button (Like) at the bottom of the screen, as it gives me the energy to head out to the next sauna!

See you in the next sauna report. Have a great sauna life!