On October 1, GENSEN HOLDINGS reopened “Oedo Onsen Monogatari Premium Minoh Kanko Hotel” and “Oedo Onsen Monogatari Minoh Onsen Spa Garden” (1-1 Onsen-cho, Minoh City, Osaka Prefecture). We took a look at the newly renovated facilities during a preview event held prior to the reopening.
This renovation was carried out following approximately a year and a half of construction. The most significant change was at the Minoh Onsen Spa Garden, where the concept was completely revamped—shifting from a hot spring facility themed around “festivals” to a “hot spring retreat” where guests can relax surrounded by Minoh’s natural beauty.
The large public bath has also been redesigned to match this concept. “Yamakei no Yu” has been renovated from its previous public bath style—which featured depictions of Mount Fuji in red and cranes—into a serene space with walls painted with deep-green mountain ranges evoking the natural scenery of Minoh. While the central circular bath has been retained, the lighting and interior design have been significantly updated.
The other bathhouse, “Yagura Hinoki no Yu,” has also been completely renovated into a modern facility featuring timber framing and natural stone. The men’s and women’s baths alternate by day of the week: “Yamakei no Yu” is for men on Sundays, Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and for women on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, while “Yagura Hinoki no Yu” follows the opposite schedule.
There are also plenty of spaces to relax in after a bath. The newly created “Relaxation Area” features “Dandan Hill,” where visitors can spend time outdoors; “Harappa,” a space lined with stools designed to resemble tree stumps; and “The Grove for a Break,” which houses a collection of approximately 5,000 manga volumes.
In addition, the facility features “Kokage no Tsukue,” a workspace made of wood, and “Yasuragi no Shiba,” a relaxation floor with a green theme. It’s no longer just about taking a hot spring bath and leaving—it’s now a place where guests can relax and unwind inside the facility even after their bath.
And one of the highlights of this renovation is Science’s “Future Human Washing Machine,” which garnered attention at the 2025 Osaka-Kansai World Expo.
The facilities that were featured at the World Expo are now being installed in the private baths at Minoh Onsen Spa Garden. Rather than being displayed, they will operate as facilities that visitors can actually use.
Each session lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes, and the capacity is 2 to 4 people. The fee is 11,000 yen per room, and the facility is open to middle school students and older. Operating hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., with a maximum of eight time slots per day. Only the 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. slot is reserved for hotel guests; all other slots are available for day-use visitors as well. Advance reservations are not accepted; reservations are taken on a first-come, first-served basis at the facility on the day of use.
At the ceremony held prior to the grand reopening, Mr. Yasuaki Aoyama, Chairman and CEO of Science Holdings, explained that approximately 1,300 members of the public had experienced the “Mirai Human Washing Machine” at the World Expo. According to a survey, 98.3 percent of respondents rated their experience as either “very satisfied” or “satisfied.”
This partnership was sparked by a visit from GENSEN HOLDINGS to Science’s showroom. Upon hearing that Spa Garden was shifting its focus from the traditional “lively, festival-like” atmosphere to a “hot spring retreat,” Mr. Aoyama reflected, “We truly felt we could be of help here. I felt a strong sense of compatibility.”
In addition to the Mirai Human Washing Machine, the facility has also installed the “Mirable EX” showerhead and the “Mirabus” for bathtubs.
The adjacent “Oedo Onsen Monogatari Premium Minoh Kanko Hotel” was also renovated at the same time.
For hotel guests, the hotel offers the “Premium Lounge,” which overlooks the Osaka Plain. In addition to complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, the “GRAND DINING” restaurant has been completely renovated with a wood-toned interior. With a total of 407 seats, it offers a buffet featuring local specialties such as “Akashi-yaki” and “Naniwa-niku-sui,” as well as “hot spring steamed dishes.”
In addition, the hotel’s large public bath, “Tenku Yuya,” is located at an elevation of approximately 180 meters, and the open-air bath offers a panoramic view of the Osaka Plain.
At the open house, Shunsuke Kawasaki, Representative Director of GENSEN HOLDINGS, and Mr. Aoyama of Science were among those in attendance for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Reflecting on the construction project, which spanned approximately one and a half years, Mr. Kawasaki mentioned the introduction of the “Mirai Human Washing Machine” and “Mirable,” and said, “I hope we can grow together with Osaka and here in Minoh City.”
Minoo Onsen Spa Garden has evolved from the bustling hot spring theme park it once was into a facility where visitors can relax and take their time enjoying the hot springs and the time before and after their soak. With the addition of a new experience called the “Future Human Washing Machine”—which garnered attention at the Osaka-Kansai Expo—the park has undergone a major overhaul, not only in its atmosphere but also in the very way visitors spend their time there.
© Source travel watch