A day trip to a hot spring, Yoshinogari

Saga Prefecture is known for some famous hot springs like Takeo Onsen and Ureshino Onsen, but a less known one in Yoshinogari is Sazanka no Yu. This hot spring is located in a quiet part of the mountains with some amazing views.

Located north of Yoshinogari City in the Higashi Sefuri area, Sazanka no Yu is most easily accessed by car, but a bus does run from Yoshinogari Park station for 100 yen. However, this is only available on weekdays for very limited times. If you can not drive or take a taxi though, you can match up your trip with the bus times easily. Planning is well worth the effort! Entry is 720 yen for adults and 360 yen for children. Children up to three years old enter for free. Private rooms are also available if you are unsure about entering the public spring. These cost 2000 yen for one hour, but may need to be reserved beforehand. For help with this, you can contact Saga Travel Support.

In the public spring, Sazanka no Yu has some different types of baths. Some of these change seasonally and have included a milk bath with swirling flower petals. Every Monday and Friday there is a green tea bath, said to have benefits for healthy skin. There are outdoor and indoor baths. Outside, you can relax in the water and enjoy the view of the surrounding mountains. One of the outdoor springs is filled with warm water, slightly cooler than regular hot spring water, and just the right temperature to relax for a longer time. Indoors, there is a spring designed for sitting or lying down and has a jet powered massage.

There are also saunas, including a salt sauna in the women’s area. In here, you can use the salt on your skin like a body scrub, leaving your skin feeling wonderfully smooth. Also available is the stone sauna, or “ganbanyoku”, where you can lie on heated natural rock. This has great health benefits, especially if you have stiff shoulders or back pain. After relaxing in the spring, you can look in their gift shop which also sells locally grown fruit and vegetables.