Haruko Sakamoto, the owner of Tatsumi Onsen in Osaka's Fukushima Ward. (©Sankei/Tomoki Ichimura)
このページを で読む
Nestled among shrines and temples in Osaka's Fukushima Ward, the public bathhouse Tatsumi Onsen offers visitors a soothing escape beneath a sweeping mural of Osaka Castle. Such murals are part of what gives public baths their unique atmosphere.
Just inside the entrance, guests are welcomed by an old chandelier. In the bathing area stands a towering image of Osaka Castle's main keep, not a painted mural but an enormous mosaic assembled from countless small tiles.
Haruko Sakamoto, 77, runs Tatsumi Onsen with her husband. She explains that similar castle murals were created around 1985 at five bathhouses across Osaka Prefecture, including her family's former bathhouse in Ikeda City. Today, only this one survives in its original form.
The interior was designed to complement the mosaic, with a rich variety of tiles throughout and thoughtful details such as stained glass visible from the reclining bath. The entire space feels like a work of art, with something new to notice at every turn.
A Popular Local Specialty
Tatsumi Onsen has also become known for Sakamoto's boiled eggs, cooked to a perfectly soft texture and served with a selection of salts, such as bamboo salt. The price has remained unchanged for 30 years: ¥50 each (about $0.30).
"I started both the mural and the boiled eggs because I wanted to make customers happy," Sakamoto says. Some visitors travel long distances just to experience these special touches.
RELATED:
- Bathhouses Raise Alarm as Industry Crisis Deepens
- Student Saves a Kyoto Bathhouse Long Loved by Geisha
- Public Baths: Bare All or Towel Up?
- Hidden Wonders | A Tokyo Bathhouse Where Firewood Heats the Soul
Author: The Sankei Shimbun
このページを で読む
