Enjoy "beautifying hot springs" in the onsen paradise of Kyushu ♡ 9 recommended onsen resorts and ryokan that are great for women

Kyushu is a wonderful place where you can feel the dynamic workings of the earth with all your senses, with places like Aso, Sakurajima, and Takachiho Gorge. Each prefecture is also home to unique onsen including Beppu, which boasts the largest volume of hot spring water in Japan, and Kurokawa, which exudes a rural mountain atmosphere. For this reason, it is also known as "onsen paradise," where you can enjoy a wide variety of spring qualities, spectacular scenery, and history.

Among onsen in Kyushu, in addition to famous onsen areas such as Ureshino onsen and Unzen onsen, there are also famous hot springs known only to a few, such as Nagayu onsen, Hirayama onsen, and Kenokuchi onsen, as well as hidden onsen onsen that are especially popular among women, and are known to have "beautiful skin water" all over the place. This time, we will introduce some particularly recommended onsen areas and ryokan. Let's enjoy the "beautiful skin water" that is unique to Kyushu, the onsen paradise.

Roppokan is ryokan you can enjoy tranquil views of the Chikugo River and rural landscapes from all of your rooms. There is a wide variety of guest rooms to choose from, including Japanese-style rooms and twin rooms where you can enjoy onsen, as well as special Japanese-style rooms with open-air baths. In the special Japanese-style rooms, you can enjoy onsen in private while feeling the breeze and the flow of the river.

If you want to enjoy Haratsuru onsen in a large bath, try one of the four large baths: the open-air garden bath with a view, the open-air cypress bath, and the indoor cypress bath and bamboo charcoal bath. From the atmospheric rock-built open-air garden bath and the pleasantly scented open-air cypress bath, you can enjoy not only onsen but also the tranquil scenery of the Chikugo River, which is sure to soothe you. The two indoor baths are also equipped with herbal baths, and they even prepare herbal tea and cold water for you to use after your bath. The baths are switched between men and women on a daily basis, so if you stay overnight, you can experience all the baths.

In addition to facilities such as the lobby and lounge and coffee lounge, there are plenty of spaces to relax outside of the rooms, such as a terrace where you can enjoy a foot bath. The view from the rooms is wonderful, but it's also fun to gaze out at the Chikugo River while soaking your feet in the foot bath. You can relax while feeling the scenery, the flow of the river, and the breeze, which change with the season and time. In spring, why not enjoy an elegant foot bath while admiring the cherry blossoms?

Taishoya is a long-established onsen ryokan that was founded in 1925. The inn is made up of three buildings: the main building, the east building, and a detached building. Although each building has its own unique style, they blend in with the surrounding cedar groves to create a unified atmosphere. The inn was designed by Junzo Yoshimura, a master of architecture who is known for fusing Japanese beauty with modernism, and who has created many beautiful buildings, including the basic design for the New Imperial Palace. The inn offers heartfelt hospitality befitting a building that becomes more beautiful the more it is used.

Both men and women can enjoy onsen in two different types of large baths. At "Shiki no Yu," you can bathe in an open-air space filled with greenery. At "Takinoyu," you can soak in the water while watching the garden with a waterfall and the carp swimming in the pond. What's more, if you stay at this inn, you can also use the "Yama no Yu" and "Shiiba no Yu" at the affiliated ryokan "Shiiba Sanso," and "Koume no Yu" at Yuyado Seiryu. It'll be exciting to see what kind of skin you'll have after touring five of Japan's top three great baths for beautiful skin.

You can enjoy kaiseki cuisine that reflects the four seasons of Saga, with a focus on specially selected beef and seafood from the Ariake Sea. You can also taste the onsen tofu, a specialty of Ureshino, made at the directly managed factory "Yudofu Honpo."

"Yuyado Unzen Shinyu" is the only ryokan in Unzen with four hot springs on its premises. In addition, it is surrounded by lush greenery, so you can fully experience nature with all five senses throughout the four seasons. The guest rooms are all unique, ranging from elaborately designed Japanese modern types to Japanese-style rooms with open-air baths. You can spend a relaxing time away from the hustle and bustle of the city and your daily routine.

There are various types of guest rooms, but of the four private hot springs on the premises, only four rooms with open-air baths, "Tsukitei," allow you to enjoy the milky white waters of the fourth hot spring. There are two types of bathtubs available: a cypress bath and a Shigaraki ware bath, and you'll have to wait until the day to find out which one you'll get. If you want to enjoy all the hot springs from the first to the fourth, Tsukitei is the only choice, where you can enjoy the fourth hot spring of Unzen onsen in a private space.

To enjoy the other three springs, use the large public bath or the private baths. The milky white water from the first source can be enjoyed directly from the source in the private bath "Madoka." The translucent water from the second source is poured into the large public bath "Kosensho," which consists of an indoor bath and an open-air bath surrounded by greenery. The highly concentrated third source is poured into two large public baths, "Kinugasa-no-Yu" and "Kasho-no-Yu," which are connected to an indoor bath and an open-air bath that both have water directly from the source.

Shimabara Peninsula, known as the "stomach of Kyushu," is a treasure trove of ingredients nurtured by the rich nature. At Yuyado Unzen Shinyu, you can enjoy an original banquet that changes monthly and uses as much fresh seafood and mountain produce as possible from within a 15-mile (25km) radius of the inn. The breakfast is a Japanese-style breakfast made with carefully selected ingredients from the Shimabara Peninsula. You can recharge your energy not only through onsen but also through the food.

Hirado Senrigahama onsen Hotel Ranpu is the only hotel where you can enjoy Hirado Senrigahama onsen. At the foot bath cafe and wood terrace, you can relax while looking out at the sparkling cobalt blue sea and sandy beach. In addition, the hotel offers a wide range of facilities and services, including a hammock cafe and manga corner. This is a highly entertaining hotel where you can enjoy a variety of things other than onsen.

If you stay at this hotel, we highly recommend the ocean view rooms that overlook the sea directly in front of you. After a bath, you can sit on the spacious balcony and enjoy the breeze while gazing at the sea, and you'll feel like you're in a tropical resort. In the evening, you can chat while gazing at the stars with a drink in hand. You'll have a wonderful time.

Hirado Senrigahama onsen offers three types of baths: an infinity observation open-air bath, one of the largest open-air baths in Western Kyushu, and a large public bath. Enjoy the resort atmosphere while looking out at the sea in the infinity observation open-air bath. When the sun sets, you can enjoy a romantic bath while watching the sunset sky. On the other hand, the open-air bath, one of the largest in Western Kyushu, is full of atmosphere and makes you feel like you are in a Japanese garden. onsen has the effect of removing unnecessary dead skin cells and dirt from pores, so you can expect beautiful skin effects.

Hitoyoshi Ryokan, a nationally registered tangible cultural property, is ryokan ryokan still retains the same appearance as when it was founded in 1934. Despite this reputation, ryokan was forced to close for an extended period in 2020 due to the heavy rains of July 2020. However, it managed to bounce back after a partial reopening thanks to the support of many people, including volunteers and crowdfunding, and reopened fully in May 2022.

In order to maintain the value and atmosphere of the building, the pillars and other usable items have been left intact, and the interior has been given the feel of the early Showa period. The scent and warmth of new wood permeates the air amid the weight of history, creating a comfortable space. It is a space filled with the pure love of staff, volunteers, support from all over the country, and everyone else.

Inside the facility, you can enjoy 100% natural hot onsen water straight from the source, which was featured in the book "onsen Matsuda Tadanori's New 100 Famous Hot Springs of Japan" (published by Nikkei Business Jinbunko) by international onsen scholar Matsuda Tadanori. There are two large baths, which are alternated for men and women. One is a bathtub with a depth of 80cm where you can sit on a wooden bench and enjoy the hot water. The other is a tasteful rock bath. There are also open-air baths and private baths, so you can enjoy a total of six baths.

meal offers a wide variety of dishes, including local cuisine using Hitoyoshi's specialty Kuma River sweetfish and high-quality black pork from the local Kumamoto region, as well as dishes incorporating authentic Korean food culture. Enjoy a variety of dishes that will please both your body and soul, such as kimchi handmade by the Korean proprietress and the famous Kuma black pork tea shabu-shabu hotpot.

ryokan Zenya, surrounded by the nature of Yamaga, is ryokan you can truly relax in the spacious onsen and spend quality time. There are four types of guest rooms, all of which are stylish yet finished with a warm wooden feel. The beds are also made by Simmons, which are known for providing a comfortable sleep. You can relax to your heart's content in a comfortable space.

You can enjoy high-quality, natural hot spring water that is 100% straight from the source in the large public bath, open-air bath, and private bath. The large public bath has such a sense of openness that you would never think it was an indoor bath, and you can enjoy a magnificent view while bathing. In the open-air bath, you can feel the refreshing breeze in the spacious space, listen to the rustling of the trees, and see the starry sky at night, and you will be soothed by all five senses.

You can enjoy healthy, seasonal banquet cuisine made with local Kumamoto ingredients carefully selected by the head chef. From appetizers to desserts, the exquisite dishes are all homemade and are sure to satisfy both body and soul. Breakfast is also healthy, featuring local ingredients. The side dishes are served in small portions so that you can enjoy a variety of dishes. This is a breakfast that women will love.

"Shukubo Hisui no Sho The Kingfisher Resort" is ryokan where all the facilities, including the thatched roof main house and the guest room building, are detached. Each facility, built on a 10,000m2 site, is connected by a 300m long corridor, and from the "Stargazing Tower" located halfway up, you can see the star-filled sky and the vast grounds. The main building, which contains the lobby, also has a lounge and other relaxing spaces.

There are three types of guest rooms: a special detached room with an open-air bath, a detached room with an indoor bath, and a guest room with an open-air bath, and each room has a different design. Being able to soak in onsen whenever you want in a luxurious room with an open-air bath is the ultimate happiness. The rooms are spacious, and you can relax while listening to the rustling of the trees and the birds and feeling the natural breeze on your skin.

In order to realize a genuine free-flowing hot spring, Hisui no Sho has installed baths of a size suited to the amount of hot spring water. For this reason, there is no large public bath. Both the indoor bath and the open-air bath are bathed in "small baths for men and women". In addition, there are three private baths and two private open-air baths that can be freely used if they are available. You can enjoy Japan's best carbonated spring to your heart's content while feeling the breath of nature in the baths where hot spring deposits float on the surface of the water.

For meal, you can enjoy original banquet cuisine made with local seasonal ingredients such as vegetables and herbs from the on-site garden, Bungo beef, and Enoha fish raised in spring water. Breakfast is also made with locally produced ingredients, and you can enjoy vegetables from the on-site garden, local tofu, eight seasonal side dishes, and your choice of fish from several varieties. Recharge every inch of your body with the power of Nagayu onsen through both the hot onsen and meal.

Founded in 1875, Okamotoya is a long-established ryokan that evokes tradition and is surrounded by abundant nature. The interior of the building has a purely Japanese feel, but there are also modern touches scattered throughout, making it extremely comfortable. The Japanese-style guest rooms come in two types: special rooms and Japanese-style rooms. We recommend the detached special rooms, which come with an indoor bath that flows directly from the source. From the open veranda, you can see Beppu Bay and Myoban Bridge, and you can enjoy the Myoban Onsen hot onsen that flows directly from the source at any time. You can spend your time relaxing in the spacious rooms.

Okamotoya's onsen are from a natural spring, and are 100% natural, without adding water or heating. The open-air garden bath is filled with milky white water with a blue hue like celadon, and is decorated with the surrounding greenery and seasonal flowers, creating a fantastical atmosphere. The strong antibacterial ingredients in this milky blue water remove dead skin cells, and the moisturizing ingredients are said to moisturize the skin. In the indoor baths, you can also enjoy a cypress bath and a tasteful rock bath.

meal include melt-in-your-mouth Bungo beef, and seasonal local dishes that can only be enjoyed here, such as the popular "Seki mackerel" and "Seki horse mackerel" with their tender texture. We also recommend the "Hell Steamed" which is cooked in a hell pot and allows you to taste the concentrated flavor of the ingredients. The power of onsen and healthy meal will refresh your mind, body, and skin.

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"Myoken onsen Nemu" is ryokan located along the Tenmuri River, with all rooms offering a river view. In the restaurant, designed to let in just the right amount of sunlight, you can enjoy dishes made with plenty of local Kirishima ingredients. The entrance to the restaurant is decorated with tin, a traditional Kagoshima craft, and the walls are decorated with Satsuma Kiriko, making the waiting time a pleasant one.

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All guest rooms, except for the barrier-free Western-style rooms, are Japanese-style, allowing you to relax while gazing at the river and the greenery of the mountains. You can stretch your limbs barefoot on the tatami mats to relax. We especially recommend the 10-tatami room with an open-air bath. In this private space, you can enjoy the fizzy, highly concentrated carbonated spring water, full of minerals, with the river in your eyes and nature in the background. (The photo is an example of a guest room.)

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onsen water gushes out from deep underground and is quickly heated to the right temperature using a heat exchange system. Because water is not added or cooled over time, deterioration or denaturation of the water is prevented, allowing you to enjoy the water as it is from the source. It's also great for beautiful skin. What's more, the inn offers a variety of baths to enjoy, including a large public bath, a rock bath, a tub bath, a reclining bath, and an open-air bath, so you can enjoy the feeling of going on a hot spring tour.

Kyushu, where more than one-third of Japan's hot springs are gathered, is a onsen paradise blessed with onsen of various spring qualities. As a result, there are many onsen known for their skin-beautifying properties, which are especially popular among women. On your next trip, why not decide onsen to visit based on the kind of results you can expect from them? You can also enjoy the before and after photos, which will make your trip even more wonderful.