Retro Tamagawa Hot Springs and Bathhouse

Author: Richard Perkins
Photos/Videos Taken: 2021/03/08
Address: 3700 Tamagawa, Tokigawa-machi,
Hiki-gun, Saitama,【355-0342】

昭和レトロな温泉銭湯玉川温泉 (showa retoro na onsen sentō tamagawa onsen) is a complex in Saitama prefecture with both a bathhouse and a hot spring. Originally opened in 1991 under the name 玉川温泉 (tamagawa onsen), this complex underwent a number of changes in operations before changing to its current name.

There are more bathhouses and hot springs in Japan than one can count, but Retro Tamagawa Hot Springs and Bathhouse is a complex that is just as its name implies, a complex that has a retro theme based on Japan’s Showa era (1926-1989). There are posters from the Showa era plastered across this complex, a car that looks as if it's from the Showa era, along with many other items that give off a nostalgic vibe. Stepping just one foot into this complex and you really do feel as if you've slipped into the Showa era.

Just like other bathhouses and hot springs across Japan, here they also sell items that one uses when taking a bath. For example, here they sell plastics ケロリン (kerorin) tubs and kerorin towels that are used when bathing oneself. 

Small tubs at bathhouses (and at homes) are to be filled with water and used when cleaning oneself. Kerorin is a manufacturer of pharmaceutical drugs from Toyama prefecture that also makes numerous bath-related products. In particular, a yellow tub with the name kerorin written inside them is their signature product and can be found at a large number of bathhouses across Japan.

On top of these items, they also sell a wide selection of ラムネ (ramune), which is a Japanese style of lemon soda, cola, and cider. They have many unusual flavors such as green tea flavored cola and 柚 (yuzu), a citrus fruit similar to that of a lemon, flavored cider.

At the far end of this complex is a library-style room filled full of magazines that you can read at your leisure. You can even eat lunch and or dinner here, so although this isn’t a very big complex for a bathhouse or hot spring, other than the baths themselves there are lots to enjoy, you can easily spend an entire day here.