After a relaxing onsen trip in Wakayama prefecture to celebrate my husband’s birthday, we wanted another onsen trip quick.
Luckily, Tokyo’s got onsen covered too!
Quality outdoor onsen within Tokyo: Sayano Yudokoro
Under an hour from our place on Mita train line, we arrived at 前野原温泉 さやの湯処 (Maenohara Onsen Sayano Yudokoro) in Itabashi ward.
Sayano Yudokoro welcomed us with these impressive chrysanthemum at the entrance.
They offered a range of onsen with a few jet baths inside and outside, they mist sauna and 源泉掛け流し温泉 (gensen kake nagashi onsen meaning there are no temperature control or water added to the hot spring from the ground).
The onsen quality was salty that helps retain sweat from escaping the skin to keep the body warm even after you leave the bath.
When the onsen gets too hot, there are laying down bed onsen to cool off.
Tokyo constantly surprises me with the activities offered in the city.
前野原温泉 さやの湯処 (Maenohara Onsen Sayano Yudokoro)
Address: 3 Chome-41-1 Maenocho, Itabashi City, Tokyo 174-0063
https://goo.gl/maps/6twU5rb1B5JRSc95A
Opening hour: 9am – 12am
Website: https://www.sayanoyudokoro.co.jp/
Cost: 1,120yen for the weekend
While we stayed within Tokyo, we visited a Japanese French fusion restaurant called Terasu where I felt like we ate around Northern Japan where we slurped the ocean’s milk, oysters from Iwate, Miyagi beef, Tokyo pork roast cutlet to just a name a few dishes.
Being restricted to have last order by 7pm or 7:30pm, being out until 10pm was something unusual. I don’t want to jinx myself but hopefully Tokyo is returning to a bit of normalcy. 🤞🏻
丁来巣 (Terasu)
Address: 173-0014 Tokyo, Itabashi City, Oyamahigashicho, 23−6 Oyama A building 3F
Opening hour: Monday – Sunday from 6:00pm
https://www.instagram.com/terasu_ooyama
And now it’s December and the year seems to get wrapped up earlier and earlier. Spotify has already summed up what I’ve listened to in 2021 (because December isn’t part of the year!) and Japan is in full swing of the best of 2021.Words that defined the year is voted as “流行語大賞” (popular word contest).
The words that made it in the top 10 reflected 2021 in Japan. Inevitably, some related to words became part of our vocabulary due to covid-19 including:
人流 (Jinryu, about the movement of people often used to explain why covid infection happened in a populated area or to explain certain restrictions including early restaurants closure was to regulate Jinryu)
黙食 (Mokushoku, phrase seen at restaurants encouraging people to eat in silence to prevent the spread covid-19).
How will you sum up 2021?
Have a safe weekend
Native Expat 