京都の銭湯に初挑戦しました。自転車で五分ほどの近場にあります大黒湯さんで銭湯デビューです。押すと開く自動ドアを抜けますと小さな受付場。靴を下駄箱に収めて大人一人分のお代四百三十円を払って脱衣所へ。大きめのロッカーに着替えをしまい、ゴム付き鍵を手首につけて、いざ浴室へ。
The first time visit to a public bath in Kyoto. Made a debut at Daikoku-yu, five-minute bike-ride from my apartment. Pushed to open an automatic door, and entered into a small entrance area. Took the shoes off, paid the adult fee of 430 yen and into the dressing room. Put all the clothes into a large locker, got the key with a band on my wrist, then entered the bathroom.
女湯は右手に洗い場、左手と奥に浴槽。その奥にはサウナとスチームサウナ。五人ほど先客がいらっしゃいました。さっと掛け湯をしてまず左手にある三つの浴槽のうちの真ん中へ。手前は小さな電気風呂。真ん中と奥が大きめ。一番奥は友達らしきお二人がなごやかに談笑していたので、だれもいなかった真ん中を選びました。けっこう熱め。指先と足先にじんじんと暖かさがにじんできます。十分温まったところでサウナの手前にある小さな水風呂。すっきりしたところで、背中と足元から勢いよく泡が吹き出すジャグジー。水風呂。左手の一番奥があいたのでそちらへ。一番温度が低い浴槽でした。ゆったりと温まりなおして、水風呂。そして一番小さくてなかなか空かなかったよもぎ湯。季節の湯ということで、時々変わるのでしょうか。緑の湯につかると、柔らかに足元から湧き出す泡とともに香が立ちのぼり、温泉気分。水風呂ともう一度緩めの大風呂。最後の水風呂に浸かってできあがり。
The female bathroom had the washing area on the right, bathtubs on the left and at the back. Behind the bathtubs at the back, sauna and steam sauna rooms. There were several ladies already enjoying the bath. After rinsing myself, tried the middle of the three bathtubs on the left. The back one of the three was already occupied with two ladies talking and I didn't want to intrude. The middle was rather hot. Fingers and toes tingled with the heat. When got hot enough, took a water-bath in front of saunas. Refreshed, took a Jacuzzi, with strong bubbles bursting out from the back and the bottom. Water-bath again. The big one at the back on the left had an opening so entered that. A little cooler than the middle one. Leisurely, enjoyed the warmth and the steam, the water-bath. The smallest of all had seasonal water "yomogi(wormwood)-yu." Can only take one (or two if among friends) and was occupied consistently. Finally, saw the opening and took it. Submerged in green water with a wonderful fresh scent rising up with soft bubbles from the bottom, I felt like being in a hot spring. Water, warm bath, then, water again for the last time.
帰りの湯冷めが少々心配でしたが、頰のなぶる風が心地よく、手袋もいらないほど身体がしっかり温まっていました。これは癖になります。
A little worried about getting chilled on the way back, but the wind on the face was just invigorating, and the body felt warm enough, not needing the gloves. I have to do this again.
