Starting January 1, Reiwa 8, it looks like the bathing fees for public bathhouses in Hyogo Prefecture were revised.
Quoted from the “Hyogo Prefecture Public Bathhouse Trade Sanitation Association”
The adult fee has gone up by 80 yen, while the fee for elementary school students and younger has increased by 20 yen. This is apparently the first review in about three years.
Eligible Public Bathhouses in Nishinomiya City
- 双葉温泉（分銅町）
- 新湯（鳴尾町）
- 浜田温泉（甲子園浜田町）
- クア武庫川（笠屋町）
- 今津温泉（今津社前町）
※This is only a revision of the “maximum price,” so some facilities may charge less than this amount.
※芦之湯 is a Nishinomiya municipal public bathhouse and is not a member of the “Hyogo Prefecture Public Bathhouse Trade Sanitation Association,” so it is not included.
Why Are the Fees Changing?
To Respond to Rising Prices, Labor Costs, and Fuel Oil Prices
- This is due to factors such as the minimum wage increase that took place in October, as well as rising prices for heavy oil and other fuels needed to heat the bathwater.
Changes to the Maximum Bathing Fees for Public Bathhouses in Hyogo Prefecture
- Because sento public bathhouses are part of everyday life infrastructure, maximum fees are set by prefecture under Article 11 of the Price Control Ordinance to prevent prices from rising too sharply.
- As mentioned earlier, because labor costs and operating expenses have been increasing, a recommendation was made to revise the fees, and after deliberation by the Public Bathhouse Bathing Fee Council, the fees were officially revised.
Reference: Hyogo Prefecture “Revision of Controlled Public Bathhouse Bathing Fees”
Finally
Just as railway fares are set under a “maximum fare approval system,” everyday life infrastructure needs to remain accessible to everyone, which is why price increases are handled very carefully. A visit to a sento can be surprisingly refreshing, so if you’re feeling worn out from work or school, consider stopping by.
