Let's Celebrate the Once-in-a-Millennium "Bath Year" (2026)! "Bath Common Scenarios Karuta Tournament" for Elementary School Students and Younger to be Held at Bukou Onsen and Ofuro Cafe utatane

Onsen Dojo Co., Ltd. (Tokigawa Town, Hiki District, Saitama Prefecture, Representative Director: Kazuki Yamazaki), which operates Chichibu Yumoto Bukou Onsen (Yokoze Town, Saitama Prefecture, hereinafter referred to as Bukou Onsen) and Ofuro Cafe utatane (hereinafter referred to as utatane), will hold a "Bath Common Scenarios Karuta Tournament" for children elementary school age and younger.

2026 is the once-in-a-millennium "Bath (026) Year." "Bath Common Scenarios Karuta" is an original karuta created by the "2026 Bath Year Project" Executive Committee. The reading cards of the karuta are filled with "common scenarios" in the bath that will make you chuckle, as well as bath manners and history that are good to know, providing an opportunity to naturally grow to love baths through play.

<Bath Common Scenarios Karuta Tournament @ Bukou Onsen>

The winner will receive a luxurious assortment of sweets and toys.

Date and Time: 3:00 PM on the 26th of each month from June to November 2026

Location: Bukou Onsen, 2nd Floor Grand Hall

Target Audience: Children elementary school age and younger

Participation Fee: Free

How to Participate: Please come directly to the venue on the day of the event.

<Bath Common Scenarios Karuta Tournament @ Ofuro Cafe utatane>

Date and Time: 5:00 PM on the 26th of each month from July to November 2026

Location: Ofuro Cafe utatane, Lounge Area

Target Audience: Anyone can participate

Participation Fee: Free (*Separate admission fee required)

How to Participate: Please come directly to the venue on the day of the event.

At the hot spring facilities in Saitama Prefecture operated by Onsen Dojo (Showa Retro Onsen Sentō Tamagawa Onsen, Onsen and Fermentation Ofuro Cafe Hakujunoyu, Ofuro Cafe utatane, Ofuro Cafe Harenwaniyu, BIO-RESORT HOTEL&SPA O Park OGOSE, Chichibu Yumoto Bukou Onsen), with the desire to pass on bath culture to the next generation and the next thousand years, we are holding a "Free Admission Campaign for Children" on the 26th of each month (Bath Day) until November 26, 2026, targeting elementary school students and younger, and "Children's Public Bath Events" to teach public bath culture and manners.

We hope that many children will come to love baths through experiencing bath culture while families casually use our hot spring facilities and public baths.

<Free Admission Campaign for Children>

Date: The 26th of each month from January 2026 to November 2026

Target Audience: Children elementary school age and younger

Content: Free admission fee

Participating Stores:

Showa Retro Onsen Sentō Tamagawa Onsen, Onsen and Fermentation Ofuro Cafe Hakujunoyu, Ofuro Cafe utatane, Ofuro Cafe Harenwaniyu, BIO-RESORT HOTEL&SPA O Park OGOSE, Chichibu Yumoto Bukou Onsen

<Children's Public Bath Events>

Date: The 26th of each month from January 2026 to November 2026

Target Audience: Children elementary school age and younger

Content: Store employees will teach bath manners.

Future Schedule:

June 26 (Fri) BIO-RESORT HOTEL&SPA O Park OGOSE

July 26 (Sun) Showa Retro Onsen Sentō Tamagawa Onsen

August 26 (Wed) Ofuro Cafe Harenwaniyu

September 26 (Sat) Chichibu Yumoto Bukou Onsen

October 26 (Mon) Ofuro Cafe utatane

November 26 (Thu) Ofuro Cafe Hakujunoyu

*For event times and application methods, please check each store's website.

Chichibu Yumoto Bukou Onsen

Bukou Onsen is a hot spring facility located at the foot of Mt. Bukō, a symbol of Chichibu, along the Yokoze River. It is about a 10-minute walk from Seibu Railway's Yokose Station. It features an open-air bath surrounded by greenery, a jet bath, and a sauna. Accommodation and a campsite are also available, so please use it as a base for sightseeing in Chichibu and Nagatoro.

4628-3 Yokose, Chichibu-gun, Saitama Prefecture

https://www.buko-onsen.co.jp/

Ofuro Cafe utatane

A hot spring facility with a Nordic Finland concept. With a lounge featuring an aurora, a steam room "Saunakota" inspired by Finnish sauna huts, Nordic cafe menu items, and room wear collaborated with the textile brand "Finlayson," you can relax and unwind as if you were inviting friends to your home.

4-179-3 Taiseicho, Kita-ku, Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture

10:00 AM to 9:00 AM the next day (23-hour operation)

https://ofurocafe-utatane.com/

2026 Bath Year

On November 26, 2025, 2026 was registered as a "commemorative year" representing "026 (ofuro)" for the year 2026. The "2026 Bath Year Project," supported by bath-related organizations nationwide (National Federation of Public Bath Industry Associations, Japan Sauna-Spa Association, Japan Bathing Promotion Association, Nippon Ofuro Genki Project, etc.), was established to invigorate the bathing industry in 2026.

https://www.2026ofuro.jp/

ONDO Holdings Inc.

Under its umbrella are Onsen Dojo Co., Ltd., Kii Company Co., Ltd., Sakana to Co., Ltd., and Saitama Musashi Heat Bears Co., Ltd. We are working to create new value to "boil the region," contribute to regional revitalization, and foster human resources. https://ondoholdings.com/