Sarada Onsen

Sarada Onsen is a neighborhood public bathhouse in Sadamitsu-cho, Anan, on Tokushima's Pacific coast, serving local residents and visitors passing through on the Anan-Kaifu coastal road. The bathhouse draws on a mineral spring source and offers several indoor tubs held at different temperatures, from a cooler soaking pool to a hotter tub favored by regulars after work, alongside a dry sauna and a cold plunge pool for contrast bathing. A relaxation lounge with massage chairs sits just outside the bathing hall, where bathers rest and often talk with locals over a drink from the vending machines. There is no treatment menu or therapist staff; Sarada Onsen operates as a straightforward day-use sento-style facility rather than a spa, and its appeal is the simplicity, low price, and everyday local character rather than curated wellness programming. Visitors pay at a front counter on arrival, choose the men's or women's side, and bathe for as long as they like within opening hours; towels can usually be rented or purchased at the counter for those arriving without one. The building is modest and functional, closer to a community bathhouse than a resort, and it is used heavily by nearby residents in the evening, so weekday afternoons tend to be quieter. Anan is known for its surf beaches and sea turtle nesting sites, and Sarada Onsen is a common stop for surfers and day-trippers washing off after time on the coast. The bathhouse closes on the second Tuesday of each month for cleaning and maintenance, a schedule long-time users plan around.