March 19-20, 2025: Hanayama Onsen in Wakayama
March 19-20, 2025: On a visit to my hometown of Wakayama for dinner with old friends, I stayed overnight at Hanayama Onsen, a place I had always wanted to visit. This hot spring is one of Japan's most renowned natural onsen, rich in minerals, iron, and other elements that crystallize in the bathtub, as well as having a high concentration of carbon dioxide. There were very few guests, especially in the early morning, so I was able to enjoy this spacious and intensely therapeutic hot spring all to myself. https://tedsogo2021.blogspot.com/2025/03/march-19-20-2025-hanayama-onsen-in.html?m=1 I also had a chiropractic treatment done here. It was great!! I stayed in a very simple, Japanese-style room, and slept on a futon instead of a bed. On the way back, I took the shuttle bus to JR Wakayama Station and had Wakayama ramen in the basement of the station building. It was my first time at this restaurant, but the chashu (braised pork) was especially delicious. I like the paint design on th...