And my reply was: Fukuoka is a great base to make trips out to Onsen towns. It is not as busy as Osaka and Tokyo and perishables are relatively cheaper here.
I like to think of Fukuoka to be somewhat similar to Adelaide when comparing against bigger cities i.e Melbourne and Sydney.
It's not as busy, food choices probably not as varied ( though to be honest, because it's in Japan, there's actually alot of food in Fukuoka) but there's a certain attractiveness about Fukuoka that I still can't find describe.
There are many good onsen towns to visit that can be done as overnight trips from Fukuoka
In no order of Excellence,
They are
1) Harazuru Onsen
Harazuru is the largest hot spring in Fukuoka Prefecture. It has an alkaline spring and a sulfur spring that can make your skin smooth. Besides enjoying the hot spring tour at the hotel facilities and the public baths that line up facing the Chikugo River, you cannot miss the triple waterwheel
2) Ureshino Onsen
It's a famous area for producing tea. It has old history as an onsen area and the weak alkaline spring that contains baking soda can make your skin beautiful. The melted rogu made in this area is super famous
3) Unzen Onsen
I's located at the foot of Unzen Mountain in Nagasaki and it's famous for it's Jigoku 0 hell. You can feel the energy of earth in the promenade as smoke and hot spring water can be seen gushing out from the center of rocky areas which people says resemble hell?
hmmm they've seen hell? they've died and come back to life?
4) Yufuin Onsen
It is located in a peaceful country side
5) Beppu Onsen
Probably the most commercialised. There are many varieties of hot spring colour and quality and also different bathing methods like mud bath, steam baths, sand steamed bath. It reminds one of a onsen theme park
6) Aso onsen
It is scattered at the food of Mount Aso in Kumamono
7) Ibusuku Onsen
You can experience sand steamed baths here
8) Kirishima Onsen
The village consists of several onsens and is a leading onsen area
9) Yakushima Onsen
This is a world heritage site. The onsen isknown for it's strong alkaline properties.
10) Kurokawa Onsen
Awarded 2 Michelin stars for its therapeutic atmosphere, Kurokawa is popular for it's scenic town scape. It is known by samurai and travelers in the Edo period as a place to call wounds.
Nicholas and I decided to go to Kurokawa onsen this time becuase of it's closer proximity and for the scenery.
To get there from Hakata bus station, you have to take a high way bus. It's recommended to make a reservation for this bus and you can do so 30 days prior to your departure.
Reservations: Go to the website https://global.atbus-de.com/RouteLists
Departure: Fukuoka
Arrival: Kunamoto
Route name: Fukuoka/Fukuoka Airport - Kurokawa onsen
Boarding bus stop - fill in yourself
Arrival Bus stop - fill in yourself
Departure date - fill in yourself
Us on the bus
There's toilet on this highway express bus so don't worry about limiting your water intake and emptying your bladder fully or um... catheterising yourself hahahahah.
We booked a room at the beautiful Ikoi Ryokan.
Hot spring eggs just outside the entrance of Ikoi
Entrance of Ikoi
Foot bath just beside the entrance
We were so hungry by the time we reached ! Immediate beeline for lunch at Ufufu since check in is not till 3pm
Nick had the udon set and he enjoyed every bit of it. The rice side dish is the tastiest pickled veg with oil rice I've ever tasted. Actually, it's probably the only pickled veg with oil rice I've ever tasted hahaha.
I had the beef steak bowl, it was SO DELICIOUS!
We ordered a serve of tendons as well
Really enjoyed my meal here, I definitely recommend this place for lunch
Ufufu うふふ
Open for lunch and dinnerMenu offers `yakiniku`horsemeat(cooked and raw 'basashi')
Speciality Creme Brulee
OPEN: Lunch served 12:00 to 14:00 Dinner served 18:30 to 20:00
CLOSED: Thursdays (open if a Public Holiday)
TEL: 81-967-440651 on Kawabata Dori
ADDIT
Check out part 2 here - a post dedicated to onsen hopping
Check out part 3 here - snacks along kawabatadori and sakuradori
KUROKAWA Onsen 黒川温泉: A guide to onsen hopping and food part 4
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