What to know
Ureshino Onsen (嬉野温泉) is a hot spring town in southwestern Saga Prefecture. Its clear onsen waters are rich in sodium bicarbonate and sodium chloride, giving them an exceptionally silky feel on the skin. This has earned them the nickname "Bihada no Yu" (beautiful skin waters).
Visitors can experience the local waters at Siebold-No-Yu, a public bathhouse with gender-separated pools. It is named after the 19th-century German scientist who enjoyed bathing here during his stay in Japan. Additionally, over 30 hotels and ryokan open their hot spring baths to day-trippers, typically for 600 to 1,100 yen. Ureshino is also famous for its tea and boiled tofu (yudofu).
Ureshino Onsen is a stop on the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen line. From Hakata Station in Fukuoka, take the "Relay Kamome" limited express (60 minutes) and then the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen (7 minutes) via Takeo Onsen to Ureshino Onsen. The one-way trip takes about 70 minutes and costs around 4,000–4,500 yen, fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass and Kyushu Rail Pass. From Nagasaki, the ride takes 25 minutes and costs about 3,000–3,500 yen.