[Complete Guide to Ureshino Onsen] Hot Spring Inns, Local Food, and the Allure of Its Skin-Beautifying Waters

Kyushu Saga International Airport is not served by train, and the nearest station is some distance away, so you’ll need to take a bus to JR Saga Station.
From Saga Station, you need to transfer twice on JR lines, but both lines have limited service, with only around one train per hour.
For that reason, it’s best to check your flight and train times in advance and adjust your schedule for a smoother trip.
Another option is a direct shared limousine taxi, which requires advance booking by 2 days before and comes with usage conditions.
It costs from 4,000 yen per person and takes Approx. 1 hour to reach Ureshino Onsen directly from the airport.

There are several ways to get there from Fukuoka Airport, but here we’ll introduce an easy-to-follow route by train.
Depending on where you are staying or which sightseeing spot you are heading to, Ureshino Bus Center may be closer than Ureshino Onsen Station.
In that case, you can take an express bus bound for Nagasaki Station from Platform 8 of the International Terminal Bus Stop and get there directly in about the same amount of time as by train.

Located across the river from Ureshino Onsen Park, “Siebold-no-Yu Public Bath” is one of the symbols of the hot spring town.
It stands out for its orange pointed roof and Gothic-style wooden architecture with a Taisho Romantic feel.
The name comes from the fact that Siebold, the physician who contributed to the development of Western medicine, once stopped by here.
The sodium-bicarbonate and chloride spring water is known for its skin-beautifying effects, leaving your skin moist and smooth after bathing.
In addition to its large public bath and private baths, the second floor has a 시민 gallery and rest area, and the facility is loved not only by locals but also as a place for tourists to relax and interact.
With a barrier-free design that minimizes steps and a wheelchair-accessible bath, it is comfortable for everyone to use.
Another plus is its long Hours from 6:00am to 10:00pm and its reasonable adult Admission of 450 yen per visit.

“Yuyu Hiroba Siebold no Ashiyu” was the first footbath spot established in Ureshino City.
It features an open-air rock bath style, where the warmth of the free-flowing spring water gradually spreads from your feet.
Open 24 hours a day and free to use, it is perfect for easing travel fatigue or warming up, especially after a long walk.
Movable slatted benches are provided, so you can sit wherever you like and relax while looking out over the townscape.

“Yuttsura” means “slowly” in the Saga dialect, and the name “Yuttsura Hiroba” was chosen through a public contest.
Tables are set beside the footbath, so it’s also recommended to relax here with coffee or a boxed meal. There is also a small footbath lined with pebbles at the bottom, so children can enjoy it too.
Another appealing feature is the hand bath, which lets you casually experience hot spring culture.
Even if you don’t have a towel, a handkerchief is enough, and your hands will feel smooth while your body warms up.

“Yuyado Hiroba” is a barrier-free footbath spot.
It is designed so wheelchair users can enjoy the bath directly while seated, and ramps are also installed so that anyone can use it comfortably.
It also has a rare “foot steam bath,” something unusual even in Japan. Sit on the circular seat for 7 people, cover your knees with a wooden box, and let the hot spring mist gently warm your legs for about 10 minutes to feel the warming effect.
Because it uses natural water from Ureshino Onsen instead of hot water, the heat is said to penetrate more easily deep into the body.

The “Hand and Foot Bath” at Ureshino Maruku opened in 2022 to coincide with the opening of the Shinkansen line.
In an open space with a roof, you can enjoy this famous local hot spring free of charge while taking in the peaceful scenery spread out before you.
The feel of the footing is pleasant as well, warming you from below the knees while also helping you relax.
Unlike the four spots above, this one is located right by Ureshino Onsen Station at Michi-no-Eki Ureshino Maruku, a little away from the hot spring town, so it’s a good place to stop at the beginning or end of your sightseeing.

Hotel Kasuien is a relaxing inn for adults where Japanese atmosphere and comfort come together in harmony.
It is located Approx. 5 minutes by car from the Ureshino Interchange, and a free shuttle bus (reservation required) is available from three locations: Ureshino Onsen Station on the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen, Ureshino Bus Center, and the Ureshino Inter bus stop.
The interior is unified in a calm and elegant style, and the hotel offers 6 types of guest rooms, mainly Japanese-style and Western-style rooms.
There are many highlights, but the biggest draw is its two bathing areas where you can soak in one of Japan’s three great hot springs for beautiful skin.
From the open-air bath on the 9th-floor top level, you can enjoy a refreshing soak while looking out over rural scenery during the day or the stars and moon at night.
Meanwhile, the large public bath on the basement 1st floor is themed around beauty and relaxation, with gentle background music and a lush garden to help you unwind both body and mind.

Wataya Besso is a hot spring ryokan located Approx. 5 minutes by taxi from Ureshino Onsen Station on the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen, standing on spacious grounds along the gently flowing Ureshino River.
It traces its origins to a joshiyaya, a rest stop used by the Shimazu family, rulers of the Satsuma Domain (present-day Kagoshima Prefecture), and part of the building still bears the Shimazu family crest.
Inside, you’ll find guest rooms in a variety of designs centered on wooden architecture, and throughout the property you can sense Japanese traditional culture and history.
Another part of its appeal is enjoying seasonal Saga ingredients for dinner before taking a long, relaxing soak in the smooth, skin-beautifying waters.
You can spend your time as you like in a setting surrounded by seasonal nature, listening to the babble of the river or watching the graceful姿 of waterfowl.
It is also known for its well-equipped facilities, including a bookstore where you can enjoy tea and reading, as well as art displays.

Founded in 1925, Taishoya is a long-established ryokan where the spirit of omotenashi hospitality has been carefully passed down through the years.
Located in the center of the hot spring town, Approx. 5 minutes by taxi from Ureshino Onsen Station on the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen (with free shuttle service available by reservation), it charms guests with its quiet, refined, purely Japanese-style atmosphere.
Step onto the grounds surrounded by cedar trees, and you’ll find an elegant space designed by the renowned Japanese architect Junzo Yoshimura, drawing guests into an extraordinary world.
The guest rooms are spread across 3 buildings, the Main Building, East Building, and detached rooms, and it is interesting how the design and views vary depending on which room you choose.
Another welcome point is that, in addition to the on-site large baths “Shiki-no-Yu” and “Taki-no-Yu” fed by its own spring source, guests can also use the hot spring facilities at its sister inn Shiibayama-so, allowing them to enjoy 4 different baths with distinct atmospheres.

Hotel Sakura Ureshino is conveniently located Approx. 6 minutes on foot from Ureshino Bus Center and Approx. 5 minutes by taxi from Ureshino Onsen Station on the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen.
One of its top highlights is “Chabatake no Yu,” the panoramic large bath on the 10th-floor top level, the highest point in the hot spring town.
From there, you can soak in the skin-beautifying waters rich in sodium while taking in sweeping views of Ureshino’s townscape and the mountains in the distance.
The perfectly balanced water temperature adds to the comfort, and it’s also nice that there are several types of baths, including an open-air bath and pot baths.
Another appeal is the buffet, which features a wide range of dishes made with local ingredients, including Saga beef roast beef, fresh sashimi, and shabu-shabu.

Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Ureshinokan is one of the hot spring resorts operated by the nationwide Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Group.
It is located Approx. 10 minutes from Ureshino Onsen Station on the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen by a reservation-only shuttle that costs 30 yen one way.
Inside, you can spend your time freely in a yukata of your choice, and the property is full of attractions such as a footbath terrace with peaceful views and karaoke rooms.
It is especially notable for its family-friendly facilities, including a free outdoor pool (summer only), table tennis, and a kids’ corner, making it a great choice for travelers with children.
Another appeal is the buffet, which offers over 70 Japanese, Western, and Chinese dishes, including local specialties and limited-time menu items.

Soan Yokonaga is famous as the birthplace of Ureshino Onsen’s specialty, onsen yudofu.
This highly popular restaurant, where lines are almost guaranteed, attracts many visitors from Japan and abroad, and its interior has the charming atmosphere of an old hot spring inn.
Its signature dish, yudofu, features house-made tofu carefully prepared using Ureshino’s hot spring water.
The rich flavor melts into the cloudy broth, and the moment you take a bite, you can enjoy its meltingly smooth texture. Even on its own, you’ll be able to taste the natural sweetness of the soybeans.
The “Yudofu Set Meal,” which comes with small side dishes and rice, and the “Katsudon,” showcasing the skills of a tofu shop, are also popular menu items.
The tender cutlet soaked in slightly sweet broth spreads deep richness and sweetness with every bite.

A restaurant, cafe, and shop attached to the ryokan Yoshidaya, which has been in business for more than 100 years.
Located along the cherry tree-lined Ureshino River, the space is centered around white tones and filled with playful touches that spark adult curiosity.
The airy restaurant has both counter seats and table seats, and you can enjoy an elegant moment while taking in the view through the large windows.
The menu mainly features weekly changing French-style dishes tailored to the season, and it is currently open for lunch only.
Along with their photogenic presentation, the dishes are also well regarded for the high quality of each plate.
Desserts made with local ingredients, such as the “Ureshino Tea Parfait” and “Ureshino Soy Milk Pudding,” are also recommended.

A Japanese-style restaurant in a traditional folk house style, standing along the Shiota River.
Inside, the high ceilings and large pillars create a striking Japanese-Western blended space where you can spend a pleasant time surrounded by jazz music and the warmth of wood.
Originally founded in 1901 as a long-established rice milling and flour mill, it is known for using “Aged Suisha Rice,” polished over 5 hours with a stone mill and wooden pestle.
The carefully selected Saga-grown rice served daily is fluffy and full of flavor.
A popular dish is the “Mille-Feuille Gozen,” featuring crispy cutlet layered with Saga pork, fresh shiso leaves, and cheese, served with refreshing ponzu sauce.
Another nice point is that one refill of rice is free.
There is also a shop attached selling rice and local sake, making it a fun place to pick out souvenirs as well.

This cafe and select shop complex is a noteworthy spot attracting many visitors not only from within the prefecture but also from other parts of Japan and overseas.
At the cafe run by local dairy farm Nakashima Farm, you can enjoy drinks and sweets available only here, including “milk brew coffee,” brewed with cold milk.
Meanwhile, the shop area carries around 600 to 700 locally rooted items, including agricultural products and processed foods made by farmers in Saga Prefecture, as well as traditional crafts.
Another appealing point is that they also stock souvenir-friendly items such as Fukuda Tofu Shop’s “Yudofu Set” and “Ureshino Black Tea Tirolian” baked sweets.

The “Fairfield by Marriott Michi-no-Eki Project” proposes a new style of travel that lets visitors enjoy the charm of each region more deeply.
It operates hotels next to roadside stations in 14 prefectures across Japan, and “Fairfield by Marriott Saga Ureshino Onsen,” next to Michi-no-Eki Ureshino Maruku, is one of them.
In addition to a 24-hour lobby lounge, the hotel has a shared space with a free cafe where guests can enjoy a microwave, toaster oven, coffee, and tea, as well as a marketplace where you can buy light meals, alcohol, and other items made with local ingredients, making it easy to relax while planning your trip.
Precisely because the hotel does not have its own restaurant or large public bath, it makes an ideal base for enjoying hot spring hopping and local cuisine around the hot spring town.

Located at the entrance to Fudoyama, the birthplace of Ureshino tea, “Ureshino Ochacha Village” is a spot where you can enjoy the appeal of Ureshino tea with all five senses.
As Japan’s first tea factory tour facility, it lets visitors see both the latest automated equipment and traditional tea-making machines.
You can also buy a wide variety of freshly roasted teas, including green tea, black tea, and hojicha, at factory prices.
What’s more, if you join the paid matcha-making experience, you can prepare your own matcha and enjoy it with sweets.
Another attraction is the shop on-site, where you’ll find a wide variety of products including freshly finished Ureshino tea, sweets made with tea, skincare items, and Arita ware, making it a fun place to look for souvenirs.

Hizen Yoshida Ware Pottery Hall is a base facility for kilns that preserve the tradition and techniques of Hizen Yoshida ware, also known as Yoshida Saraya, with a history of more than 400 years.
The Yoshida district in the mountains of Ureshino City has long continued porcelain production, and even today 5 kilns carry on the traditional industry.
Inside, representative works carefully made by each kiln are displayed and sold, and many visitors are captivated by their excellent design and functionality.
The lineup is also diverse, including everyday tableware, mugs, and small plates, making it enjoyable just to browse.
There are also painting and hand-forming workshops where you can try making your own original pottery.

“Saga Ganso Ninja Village Hizen Yumekaido” is a historical experience theme park that recreates the Nagasaki Kaido of the early Edo period.
Inside the park are various attractions, including iron shuriken throwing, exploring a trick house, and a “tour of hell” experience.
There are also plenty of free photo spots, such as the “Honjin,” a lodge reserved for feudal lords, and the “Daikansho,” which displays the seven tools of the ninja, making it fun for both adults and children.
The ninja show at the “Hagakure Ninja Mansion” is known for its powerful sword-fighting scenes and comedic elements, and its close distance to the audience makes for an immersive stage experience.
There is also the palm reading attraction, ranked No. 1 among repeat visitors, as well as a souvenir shop selling folk crafts, so you can enjoy yourself all day. Renting ninja costumes is also recommended.