🗺️ Funao Onsen船岡温泉

At the foot of Funayama, near the northern district of Kyoto City, in the area of Shirano and Kinkaku-ji, lies Funayama Onsen, a public bathhouse. It began operations in 1923 (Taisho 12) as a subsidiary bath of the ryokan "Funayaka," and has a history of nearly a century, making it a well-known establishment. The changing area and the bath maintain a strong Taisho and Showa style, and in July 2003, it became the third public bath in Japan and the first in Kyoto to be designated as a national tangible cultural property. The ceiling of the changing area features a beech wood lattice ceiling, with wooden carvings of Tengu and Minamoto no Yoshitsune embedded in the center, showcasing a strong presence. Additionally, the transoms surrounding the changing area are intricately carved with designs inspired by the Aoi Matsuri procession, the Kamo Horse Racing at Kamigamo Shrine, the festivals at Imamiya Shrine, and the Shanghai Incident. Moreover, the wall of the washbasin connecting the changing area and the bath is adorned with decorative tiles from Mallorca, Spain. It is quite rare to see museum-quality tiles used as wall materials in a public bath rather than just for preservation display. The corridor outside was relocated from the Kikusui Bridge at Senbon Kurama, and below it, beautiful koi swim gracefully in the pond. As you walk towards the bath, there are even more surprises to discover. In 1933 (Showa 8), Japan's first electric bath was installed, introduced by the second-generation owner to gain recognition for a hot spring in Kyoto, which lacked natural hot springs, and it was recognized as "Special Funayama Onsen." The "Kibune Stone" used luxuriously in the outdoor bath is considered a high-quality garden stone, and when water is poured over it, it reveals seven different colors, a remarkable phenomenon. Every corner of Funayama Onsen is almost a luxurious space that transcends the typical public bath. The bath is alternately used by men and women each day, and experiencing different styles of baths is another kind of enjoyment.

The changing area and bathhouse have been designated as nationally registered tangible cultural properties. The ceiling of the changing area features wooden carvings and openwork. The wall surface of the washbasin is adorned with Miyayori ceramic tiles. It is Japan's first bathhouse equipped with electric baths.