Fujiya Hotel

Fujiya Ryokan (藤屋旅館) is a very small, family-run bath in the hills of Koriyama, known among regulars as Zaku-no-yu (ザクの湯). The water comes from a cold spring, so it is heated when you arrive, and you wait in the family's living room while it warms up. There is one tub, which means you usually have it to yourself, and you can cool it down with the cold spring water if it gets too hot. The water is clear and odorless with no slippery feel, but visitors say the warmth lingers long after the bath. Day-use visitors are welcome, and reviewers describe it as closer to borrowing a neighbor's bath than visiting a facility: simple, a bit worn, and friendly. Bring your own soap and shampoo, and it is worth calling ahead.