Photo/Illutration Bathers enjoy the “sennin-buro” outdoor hot spring bath in Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, on Dec. 4. (Shinichi Katsube)

TANABE, Wakayama Prefecture--An open air riverside hot spring bath, a winter tradition in this western Japan city’s Kawayu Onsen spa resort, is now open.

Known as Sennin-buro,” or mountain hermit bath after a local legend, the “bathtub” measuring roughly 28 meters by 12 meters is set up on a side of the Otogawa river, where it taps hot water from deep underground.

It has been operated by the Kumano Hongu Tourist Association and other entities since 1985.

The bathtub is seemingly large enough for 1,000 people, a play on the Japanese word sennin for that number of people.

Typically, the bath attracts around 50,000 or 60,000 people each season.

An opening ceremony was held Dec. 4, during which a ritual was held to pray for the safety and prosperity of all who cleanse themselves in the tub.

Dressed as a sennin, Shinichi Shiba, head of the event’s executive committee, beat a drum and declared the hot spring bath open.

Tourists and other bathers flocked to the site on the first day of the season.

“I donned the sennin costume for the first time for the opening ceremony to enliven the mood,” Shiba said. “I hope people forget bad things in their everyday lives and enjoy the bath in a relaxed and leisurely manner.”

The open air bath is open from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. until Feb. 28.

Admission is free.

Bathers must wear swimming suits or traditional “yuamigi” bathing attire.

Lanterns are lit between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Saturdays, except when it rains.

For more information, visit (https://www.hongu.jp/en/onsen/kawayu/).

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