富嶽温泉 花の湯

Really great hot spring with both outside and I side baths. Water here comes straight from Mount Fuji and the bar has several beers, sakes and shochu from the region made with local water. The food is really good too and overall experience really good. I came here three times in two days to soak up the sacred waters. They also have a huge relaxing area with massage chairs, manga library and a shop selling local produce. Tomatoes from this region are exceptional and so are the roasted yams.

I have just one tattoo and they didn’t let me in. Even I am Turkish. What a ridiculous reason.

This place saved my trip to Fujinomiya. My reason for going there was to visit the Mt Fuji Heritage Centre but it was closed! If you want to visit this spa then stop reading if you have tattoos. It's clear at reception, and from posters around the spa, that visible tattoos are not tolerated. Those of us who haven't treated our bodies like derelict shopping precincts and graffitied all over them are very welcome. The outside looks like a council run sports centre that needs a thorough refurbishment but don’t let this put you off. Once inside (and you take your shoes off) then you are in an oasis of calm. Full day rate was Y1600 but there is an 80-minute ticket for Y900, don’t pay the lower fee and try and stay all day. If you get a day ticket you are issued with a very comfortable jacket and trousers for use in the communal areas. There are clear rules around behaviour in onsens / spas and washing before going in the baths; if not familiar do a bit of research. There are six large baths, three inside and three outside (two hot, dead sea, flower infused, sulphur and, my favourite, the carbon dioxide enriched bath). There are also some small, individual baths that have various infusions. In the dead sea (high salt) bath be careful of any cuts or skin abrasions as they will sting. I had about an hour in the bath then went for lunch at the excellent, and reasonably priced, restaurant. I took advantage of the lounge area to let my lunch settle then went back to the bath for another couple of hours. I finished my day with a beer and read in the lounge area again, making use of the massage chairs. Overall, this was a very relaxing day, a perfect break between Tokyo and Kyoto and I highly recommend it.

My comment only relates to the hot spring public baths. They are big, and despite quite an ordinary decor, it offers a variety of bathing experiences, including green tea water, sulfur water, and tea scented individual bathtubs outside. Inside you have a jacuzzi style bath and relaxing baths. There is even a big sauna and low ceiling steam bath. Outside, there is a cabin log sauna, but it was not in service when I visited. The price for an all day is 2,200 JPY but if you stay for only an hour, ask for the short stay ticket which gives you 80 min to enjoy it all. Please don't be rude tourists: if you opt for shor stay ticket, scrupulously respect the allotted time!

This place is super fun and interesting for a foreigner (as long as you have no tattoos). The onsen is big, with lots of different outside and indoor facilities, the restaurant was good and I had a great shiatsu massage (which is done over loose clothing which they provide). The front desk was helpful in getting a taxi for me too :)