When you think of Japan, two things may come to mind: beautiful onsen and delicious green tea. You can easily experience each of them around the country, but there’s a ryokan in Saga prefecture that’s combined onsen and green tea, then taken them to the next level.
Yuzen no Yado Toukai, a ryokan in the town of Ureshino Onsen, is famous for its Arita-yaki porcelain bathtubs that are shaped like giant teacups. Ureshino itself is a popular onsen destination and is also known for its sprawling tea fields. The bathtubs are made in Arita, a nearby city which is renowned for its Arita-yaki porcelain ware.
The ryokan features five private open-air tubs, each with a unique design reflecting seasonal flowers: chrysanthemums, cherry blossoms, orchids, tea flowers and wisteria. There are also two larger communal onsen bathing areas for both men and women.
There are a total of 20 Japanese-style rooms at the ryokan and you can book your stay with breakfast and a mouth-watering kaiseki-style dinner made with local vegetables and Saga beef.
Stays start at ¥6,500 per night (without meals). To enjoy the private teacup onsen rooms, you have to pay an additional ¥2,800 per person to use the facilities for 50 minutes.
The ryokan is about a five-minute walk from Ureshino-Onsen Bus Station and is also near popular sights including Yutoku Inari Shrine and Todoroki Falls. For more information and to book, visit the website.
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