Mimaki's indoor bath with the fenced-in outdoor bath in the background
また温泉巡りの続き。今回は東信の東御市の御牧の湯。千曲川の周辺で沢山の立ち寄り湯がある： あぐりの湯、布引温泉、アートビレッジ明神館、等など。川の反対側にゆらり館、ゆぅふるｔａｎａｋａ、等など。競争が激しい中で、御牧の湯の役割は何でしょうか？
設備は割と新しいけど、例えばあぐりの湯ほど綺麗じゃない、
浅間山の眺めは良いですが、露天風呂に入ってしまえば塀でブロックされる。（明神館とかの方が勝ち）
場所は県道40号沿いで便利ですが、ゆぅふるtanakaが駅の側で、百倍ぐらい便利。
じゃ、御牧の湯の売りは何でしょうか？私が思いますが、湯質です。「透明、油臭、塩味を有する」って成分分析書に書いてある。その通り。その他の立ち寄り湯の皆は温泉が薄いせいか、銭湯とあまり変わりがない。
従って、小諸・東御市当たりの達湯に入ってみたいので、湯質にこだわりがあれば、御牧の湯がお勧め。
Another hop to an onsen, this time Mimaki no Yu in Tomi City. There are so many day-use onsen in this stretch along the Chikuma River, how does Mimaki no Yu compare?
Well, it's facilities are relaticely new, but they aren't as grand as Agri no Yu in neighboring Komoro City.
The view of Mt. Asama in the distance is nice from the indoor bath, but is blocked by a fence from the outdoor one. Art Village Myojinkan's panaroma view of rice fields in the foreground and Mt. Asama in the background is much more spectacular.
Mimaki no Yu's location is convenient, located as it is right along Prefectural Route 40. But if convenience is your thing, you can't beat Yuufuru Tanaka, just steps away from Tanaka Station.
So what sets Mimaki no Yu apart? As they used to say back home at the Olympia Brewery, 'It's the water'. All of the other bathhouses in the area seem to have a lot lower mineral content in their water. Mimaki no Yu's onsen analysis sheet says their water is clear with a slight oily smell and a salty taste. Not sure about the source of the smell, but the water is high in natrium (sodium) content.
If quality of the onsen water is high on your list of criteria, then Mimaki no Yu would be a good onsen to try.
Mimaki's entrance (note Asama Mountain looming in the distance)
