Shima no Yu or Hyakurakusen? Two Public Baths in Kai City Compared
Compare two Kai City public baths: both cost ¥800 for non-residents, but Shima no Yu opens early Wednesday and Hyakurakusen has more bath types.
Checked: September 27, 2026
These are municipal baths, not hotel spas. The practical choice is mostly about timing and facilities: Shima no Yu is the one to remember for a Wednesday morning soak, while Hyakurakusen has a broader range of bathing options and a rural setting west of the city.
| Shima no Yu | Hyakurakusen | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult admission, non-residents | ¥800 | ¥800 |
| Children, non-residents | ¥400 for elementary-school age and younger | ¥400 for elementary-school age and younger |
| Regular hours | 10 am–8 pm | 10 am–8 pm |
| Early opening | Wednesdays from 6 am | None listed |
| Weekly closure | Monday; Tuesday instead when Monday is a public holiday | Tuesday; Wednesday instead when Tuesday is a public holiday |
| Bathing facilities | Large communal bath, jet bath and sauna; bubble bath currently out of service | Seven bath types, including bubble and reclining baths; women’s mist sauna |
| Extra access | City page does not list a dedicated accessible bath | Accessible bath by reservation no later than the previous day |
Both facilities also shorten their hours to 10 am–5 pm on January 2 and 3. A separate rest-area charge applies to non-residents: ¥200, in addition to admission. Kai City notes that even rest-area-only users must pay the bathing fee as well.
Choose Shima no Yu for an early start
Shima no Yu is in Shimakami-jo, in a building opened in 1995. Its standout scheduling detail is the Wednesday 6 am opening. If you are staying around Kai or Kofu and want to bathe before a day of sightseeing or a train journey, that early slot is more useful than a longer list of pools.
The city page describes a large communal bath, jet and bubble baths, and a sauna. There is one important qualification: the bubble bath remains marked out of service on the current municipal page. The facility itself has reopened since an equipment failure in April 2026, but that repair notice did not say the bubble bath had returned. Plan around the main bath and sauna instead.
Hyakurakusen has more variety—and a dedicated accessible bath
Hyakurakusen sits among fields in Utsuya. Kai City highlights views toward the Southern Alps, Yatsugatake and Mount Fuji, as well as seven bathing options and a women’s mist sauna. This is the more appealing pick if you want to move between different types of bath or spend time looking out over the surrounding countryside.
The city provides an accessible bathing room at the same admission price, but it must be reserved by the day before. Anyone relying on it should confirm the arrangement, equipment and accompanying-person rules with the facility; the listing does not spell out those details.
Check the weekday before you go
The Monday/Tuesday closure difference can settle the decision immediately. Shima no Yu closes Monday; Hyakurakusen closes Tuesday. When a closure falls on a public holiday, the city shifts it to the following day. That makes one a useful backup for the other, but a temporary maintenance notice can still override the normal schedule. Shima no Yu’s April 2026 closure and reopening notice is a reminder to check the city page on the day of travel.
Neither current municipal listing provides a full spring analysis or detailed water-treatment description. There is not enough current facility-specific information to compare source temperature, pH or circulation method responsibly.
For other baths around the basin, see the Kofu Yumura day-use comparison or the Kofu sento guide.
