湯布院プライベートサウナ&温泉 Nogiku

NOGIKU occupies the renovated former communal bath hall of a ryokan in Yufuin, keeping the original building's generous proportions for a private sauna and onsen experience rather than a shared bathhouse. Guests choose between two themed sauna rooms: AMATERASU, built around light and brightness, and TSUKUYOMI, designed for a darker, quieter mood tied to the moon.

The standard booking is a 120-minute private session covering sauna and onsen, priced by group size and day of week, from ¥5,000 for one person on a weekday up to ¥18,000 for five people on a weekend. A longer 180-minute "ryokan" plan adds an hour of extras — tea-room drinks and snacks, plus photos in yukata — for ¥7,000 to ¥20,000 depending on group size, with no weekday/weekend price difference on that plan.

One face towel and one bath towel per person are included free; extra bath towels, sauna hats, ponchos and swimwear can be rented for a small fee. Shampoo, conditioner, body soap, cleanser and skincare are provided, so arriving empty-handed is fine. A vending machine and Taiwanese pineapple tea (¥800) are available for after the sauna.

All bookings go through the website only — there is no phone reservation — and slots open up to 14 days ahead. Cancellations are free up to 48 hours before the session, 50% of the fee applies between 48 and 24 hours out, and no refund is given inside 24 hours. The facility is roofed, so rain doesn't affect access, and it sits about a 10- to 15-minute walk from Yufuin Station with 10 dedicated parking spaces on site.