Takara no Yu

Foreigners are often a little nervous to try onsen for the first time; the idea of being without clothes with your friends and colleagues and a lot of other strangers just seems uncomfortable.  But I'm always amazed at how natural it is.  Everybody has a body and onsen makes this extremely easy to accept.  Takara no Yu, our local onsen, is one of the most amazing I've visited in Japan.  Many different pools, saunas, and now hot rocks, which I tried for the first time last night.  I had a completely different image of what lying on hot rocks was like until I got there; so I've taken some pictures from the website.  Pretty amazing.

one of four hot rock rooms, temperature ranging from 45-60 C;
everyone wears a yukata, and brings a large towel (both supplied by the onsen)
they put the large towel down on the rocks and lie for as long as they like
there are two mixed rooms and two rooms for women only
ambient music is playing as well

black tile and pink salt rock room

the special baths with gold water from iron deposits;
it's supposed to be good for skin ailments and muscle pain

indoor hot water pool

some of the many outdoor pools, great during the snow