湯の町の”温泉文化”を守れ　鹿児島・指宿市の「温泉配湯」がピンチ　施設の老朽化や後継者不足 (25/08/27 12:55)

Ibusuki City in Kagoshima Prefecture, known for its sand baths, offers a service that allows not only tourists but also local residents to feel closer to hot springs. This service, known as "hot spring water distribution," is unique to this hot spring town. It allows hot spring water to be piped into home baths just like tap water, but it is currently at a crossroads. We investigated the current state of this long-loved hot spring water distribution system. Tourists enjoy the sand baths while being soothed by the sound of the waves. A tourist from Kanagawa Prefecture commented, "It feels good. The weight of the sand really hits me." This is a specialty of Ibusuki, a hot spring town. Approximately 250,000 tourists from Japan and abroad visit each year to experience it. Ibusuki City benefits from its hot springs. In fact, it's not just tourist facilities that allow local residents to enjoy hot springs. Hot spring water flows from the faucet in the home we visited. The "hot spring water distribution" service is an integral part of Ibusuki life. Hot spring water is pumped from the spring source, stored in tanks, and then distributed to homes through pipes similar to tap water. Municipal and private tanks used for this hot water distribution are dotted throughout the city. Nagayama Tomohiro, who lives in an old house in the city, moved to Ibusuki from Kanagawa in 2023 as a local revitalization volunteer. Nagayama Tomohiro, Ibusuki City Local Revitalization Volunteer "The hot springs were Ibusuki's biggest draw." Many people are drawn to the idea of ​​enjoying hot spring baths at home and have moved to Ibusuki. Nagayama "It feels great. It's a lifestyle that most people have never experienced, so I'm really glad I came." This is truly a culture unique to a hot spring town. The Ibusuki City Chronicle reveals that the city's history dates back to 1937, the 12th year of the Showa era, before the war. Subsequently, with the country's rapid economic growth, private businesses began to enter the market one after another. When the city's history was compiled in 1985, approximately 3,800 households, or one-third of the city's residents, enjoyed the hot springs. However, this long-standing hot water distribution system is now at a crossroads. One of the reasons for this is the aging of the facilities. I accompanied the daily pipe inspection work. Inspector Wada Nobuaki said, "It would be a disaster if the hot water stopped flowing. Because it doesn't reach hotels or private homes, the water itself contains salt, which causes corrosion. That could damage the motors." Ibusuki's hot springs are saltwater. This is why the pipes corrode more quickly than usual. Further deteriorating the equipment is a substance that clogs the pipes. This is known as "sea jelly," which is solidified hot spring components. More than half of the original pipe cross section is now blocked. The cost of cleaning and updating the equipment required to handle hot springs is apparently increasing every year. Compounding this problem is a decline in users due to population decline. In 1985, there were approximately 3,800 households using the hot springs, but by 2014, that number had fallen to 2,700, and by 2024, that number had fallen to 1,700. As the number of users decreased, revenues fell but maintenance costs increased. In response to this situation, the hot spring water distribution service operated by Ibusuki City decided to raise usage fees in April 2025. For average households, fees will increase by 20%, with the monthly basic fee increasing from 3,500 yen to 4,200 yen. Yasudome Kazunobu, head of the Ibusuki City Waterworks Department, said, "We are sorry to ask everyone to bear this burden, but we have asked them to understand that this is a necessary expense for maintaining the hot spring water distribution system." Private sectors are also facing difficult operating conditions. Shingu Ryo, Chairman of the Ibusuki City Hot Spring Water Distribution Association "I want to stop delivering hot spring water. Quitting is a strong option. Five companies have gone out of business in the last eight years. Realistically." According to the Ibusuki City Hot Spring Water Distribution Association, the number of members, which was nearly 30 at its peak, has now dropped to about one-third. In addition to deteriorating business conditions, private businesses are facing a lack of successors due to an aging population. In an effort to protect this difficult hot spring culture, one person launched a hot spring delivery business in January 2024. His name is Yasushi Otsubo, who runs a plumbing business in Ibusuki City. He received advice from his predecessor, who had been delivering hot spring water for over half a century, and took over the business in the form of a "business succession." Yasushi Otsubo "I thought it would be a disaster if hot spring water delivery were to end, so I discussed it w...