Yunomori Onsen & Spa sounds like it is from Japan but after some googling, it appears to be a Thai establishment with traditional Japanese onsen therapies (I may be wrong, please correct me if I am). It also appears that this Bangkok outlet is the first, followed by Pattaya, and then Singapore.

The outside looks big but the inside is just ok.

Why go to this onsen when Singapore has one? A major reason: it costs half price in Bangkok (450baht, about S$20), compared to Singapore (S$38++). The price is all inclusive with no hidden charges. You also don’t need to carry money around. You’ll be given a magnetic tag (for your locker) and this tag can be used to pay for things.

At first, Mr Fitness thought that it was silly to visit onsen in tropical weather, but after the onsen, he couldn’t get enough of it, he kept wanting to do it. In truth, the purpose of onsen is to relax, regardless of the weather.

Reception area

The water is transported from the thermal springs of Kanchanaburi’s Wat Wangkanai. The mineral content purportedly detoxes and relaxes the body.

Jet Bath

In the onsen itself, there are a few different types. The hot baths are around 38 to 43°C and the cold ones are 17 to 19°C. It’s good to alternate between the hot and cold ones because heat opens the pores to the minerals and the cold tightens for anti-aging purposes. But the cold bath is way too cold for me. I could not submerge myself fully in it.

My two favourite baths are the jet bath and soda bath. The jet bath is like a personal jacuzzi while the soda bath uses Japanese technology to form bubbles of CO2 in the spring water. Like, you know, champagne. The CO2 in the water is supposed to improve circulation, reduce high blood pressure, and give the skin a youthful glow.

Unfortunately, this soda bath is very popular, and it can only accommodate 4 persons at most.

Teak Bath

One thing that I do not like about the onsen is that each bath is small. I feel claustrophobic whenever a person enters the same bath I am in.

Besides onsen, they also have steam room with 100% humidity and sauna (80-95°C).

Take note that it is advisable to spend about an hour in the onsen. However, you can go to the common area for men and women in your kimono and rest before returning to more onsen if you want. You can watch tv in the tv room and just stay in the garden to look.

Garden

Alternatively, you may also go for massage and facial AFTER onsen. This is because the oils from massage and facials may contaminate the spring water in the onsen. However, if you go for Thai massage (450Baht, S$20), you may return to onsen since Thai massage involves no oil. Thai massage is just yoga for lazy people; you pay someone to stretch your bones for you.

I went for Thai massage while Mr. Fitness went for facial (1700baht, S$76). Both of us felt that it isn’t worth the money. My massage was just ok, I didn’t feel particularly stretched. And Mr. Fitness did not feel that his facial makes any difference. I’d advise you to skip the services and just concentrate on the onsen.

The milk is so rich and creamy.

There is a cafe called Happy Rice here and we saw a few people eating here. You can have a meal in between onsen soakings. We drank milk here after the onsen because it’s a Japanese tradition. I strongly advise you to drink it. The milk here is out of the world.

We had great fun and will be back for only the onsen next time we visit Bangkok. We will massage somewhere else. Aim to spend a relaxing 2 hours without massage or facial.

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Written by Dr. A. Nathanael Ho.

Credit: Photos without LOGO watermark are taken from their website because taking photos in onsen is not allowed. Too much nudity!