Ureshino Onsen

This hot spring is located in a beautiful countryside surrounded by tea plantations. Ryokan (traditional Japanese inns) line the streets of the hot spring resort, creating a quiet and tranquil atmosphere.

Ureshino Hot Spring, along with Takeo Hot Spring, is one of the representative hot spring resorts in Saga Prefecture. This hot spring resort is also known as “Ureshino Onsen,” one of the three best hot springs for beautiful skin in Japan.

Spring Quality

The spring is a sodium bicarbonate/chloride spring, which is said to be effective for beautiful skin. This sodium bicarbonate spring is effective for beautiful skin, and is characterized by the fact that the skin feels smooth after bathing. This quality of spring has been selected by hot spring critic Satoshi Fujita as one of the “Three Best Hot Springs for Beautiful Skin in Japan” (the other two being Hinoue Onsen and Kitsuregawa Onsen).

Hot Spring Town

The hot spring resort of Ureshino Onsen is located in the center of the town and is one of the largest hot spring towns in Kyushu. About 50 inns stand across the Shioda River (Ureshino River), including the Wataya Villa where the Emperor Showa stayed in 1987. Ryokan Omuraya, the oldest ryokan, which is said to have been established in 1830, is also located in this hot spring resort.

In the center of the hot spring resort is a footbath plaza where visitors can take advantage of a free footbath named “Siebold’s Footbath. There was also a public bathhouse “Koyu” nearby, built in 1924 to a German design, but it was torn down due to its age and the Fukuoka Prefecture Nishikata Offshore Earthquake. However, it was rebuilt in 2010 according to the original design and reopened as “Siebold’s Hot Spring.

Ureshino Onsen is also known as a hot spring for beautiful skin and is suitable for drinking. In particular, hot spring yudofu, or hot spring tofu cooked with hot spring water, is a specialty of Ureshino. It is also loved under the name “Ureshino Onsen Yudofu”.

History

The history of Ureshino Onsen is very old, dating back to Empress Jingu’s western conquest in the late 4th century. According to legend, on her way back to Japan, Empress Jingu found a wounded white crane and was worried about it. This word is said to have been translated into the word “Ureshiya” and gave birth to the name of the place, Ureshino. The Hizen Province Fudoki, written in 714, also states that Ureshino’s famous hot water cures all illnesses.

In the Edo period (1603-1867), Ureshino prospered as a post town on the Nagasaki Kaido Road, and the Ureshino Hot Spring is mentioned in the “Sansai Zue” (A Book of Three Sages in Japanese and Chinese) and the “Edo Kiko” (Travels in Edo). Since that time, it has also been known as a pleasure hot spring.

After the war, it became famous as the second most enjoyable hot spring resort after Beppu. Each ryokan (Japanese-style inn) has its own unique style, and each offers its own baths. Many events are also held in the area.

Tea has long been cultivated in Ureshino City, and efforts are being made to link Ureshino Onsen and tea.