As I get older, I find myself wanting to visit various places all over Japan before I get too busy. This time, the destination is Yanagawa, but before that, we had lunch at a hotel along the Chikugo River in Asakura City, Fukuoka Prefecture. This area has the Yamada Dam and two or three water wheels that Tetsu Nakamura used as a reference for water supply in Afghanistan. I had just seen the news a few days ago about the dam opening and the water wheels starting to turn. Oh, so this is where it was. Furthermore, around the area of Harutsuru Onsen, they also practice cormorant fishing. This hotel underwent various renovations in March, and the dining area, Kawasato, was new and beautiful. Looking at the website later, it may not have been a menu option for day trips. There was a pot of tea on the table for self-service. The sashimi included salmon, amberjack, and squid, with marinated tofu and okra on the side. The grated cold potato with pepper was a nice touch. The chicken sukiyaki hot pot was delicious. The salted ayu fish was well-cooked, even though it may not have been from this year. The fried lotus root and eggplant was piping hot with a nice crunch from the rice cracker topping. There was fish between the lotus root and eggplant, but I missed what kind it was due to the seaweed in the broth. The finely chopped crispy plum added a fun texture. We also had cold noodles and small dried fish rice. The white rice was not great and there was too much, so I left some. After dessert, we enjoyed the hotel's proud jungle-style bath. The dressing room was also clean. The two-story bath was surrounded by tall trees with hot tubs and chairs for resting. It even connected to a women-only bath, making it quite busy. The hot water was soothing and relaxing.

"Goma tofu with ikura soy sauce, kuzu tofu" is pronounced as "Godofu." While Saga is famous, Asakura is known for its kuzu, so the kuzu tofu made with kuzu is soft and pairs well with the gentle sauce and salty ikura. "Sweet simmered Chikugo ayu with burdock vinegar" has a sweet simmered flavor, while the burdock doesn't have a strong vinegar taste, making it soft and gentle. The "sashimi platter" was a three-item assortment, nothing particularly outstanding. The "grilled Chikugo river-raised ayu" raised in the clean waters of the Chikugo River has no fishy taste, with crispy fins and tender flesh. Squeezing Chikuzen princess vinegar adds acidity and a pleasant aroma. "Chikuzen Asakura steamed zoni with isobe sauce" is a local dish from Asakura passed down from Nagasaki to the Fukuoka domain during the Edo period, essentially a steamed bowl with mochi. The "Autumn-colored vegetable and Furu-dokoro chicken hot pot" is highly recommended, featuring the rare Furu-dokoro chicken, known in Asakura. It has a firm yet tender texture with rich chicken flavor and a delicious soup. "Kani mandou Horyuji roll, sweet potato, Asakura-grown kikurage tempura" features a Horyuji roll made with yuba and fried, along with tempura kikurage, which is unique but loses its crunchy texture when fried. "Soba with An-kake and yuzu tofu" has a delicious broth, and the an-kake sauce pairs well with the soba. "Shikaonai kamameshi" is cooked individually in a pot, ensuring it's freshly cooked. With only a small amount of hijiki, it allows the main dish to shine. "Honkuzu almond tofu with Kyoho jelly" has a thick texture due to the kuzu, with almost no almond flavor. Overall, it's an elegant and delicious meal that allows you to savor Asakura.

Taizensou. It's been a while since I visited Harizuru. The age of the place stands out when viewed in the daylight, but the quality of the hot springs is excellent. The food was also good. The sashimi was very small in size but each piece was carefully crafted. It wasn't mind-blowing, but there were no disappointments. I left feeling full. I paired the abalone sashimi with sake. Speaking of sake, it's expensive! I wish they had a more affordable menu. The last three pictures are of breakfast. Due to COVID-19 measures, it wasn't a buffet.

The kaiseki meal centered around seasonal ingredients from Asakura was delightful. Starting with a fruit aperitif and ending with rice cooked in a clay pot, each dish was delicately seasoned and delicious. I heard that they were affected by heavy rain this spring, but I saw on the news that they have recovered. I would like to visit again.

I stayed at a hot spring inn in Osaka for one night on a tour in February 2019. The inn is known for its hot springs, and the kaiseki dinner and buffet breakfast were both excellent. The dinner had a wide variety of dishes including an appetizer, sashimi, steamed dish with mochi, fried food, chicken meatball hot pot, and rice cooked in a pot. The dessert was a mix of persimmon, black beans, and almond tofu. For breakfast, there was a buffet with a live kitchen serving ham and eggs and rolled omelette. The chef was alone, so it got crowded when groups arrived. The buffet had a great selection, including mixed grain rice and delicious salted salmon. The drink section even had paper cups for guests to take back to their rooms, which was a nice touch. The inn had multiple baths including a jungle-style bath and an outdoor bath by a stream. The layout of the inn was a bit confusing, but the room was spacious and traditional Japanese style. Overall, it was a great experience.

Two years ago, during a family trip, we stayed at the Taiheikaku in Harazuru Onsen, a ryokan I had seen in a commercial when I was a child. The dinner was served in a dining area, not in the room. The atmosphere was nice, with individual rooms separated by sliding doors. The staff, particularly a young Asian woman, was friendly and had a lot of smiles. The seasonal cocktail was plum wine. The food included various dishes such as marinated oranges, persimmon and local vegetables, sashimi, grilled fish with miso, steamed local dish, hot pot with chicken, fried shrimp, and more. Some dishes were delicious, while others were just okay. The meal ended with dessert and coffee pudding. Overall, it was a pleasant dining experience.

Flower Basket Lunch Course (Adult) ¥4000 Flower Basket Lunch Course (Child) ¥2200 Day trip with private onsen use, includes one towel. Would like to go back and relax again. Hoping to use the pool in the summer.

The food was delicious^_^ The jungle bath was also nice^_^ It was a bit cold though^_^ It was a good New Year^_^

The facility was old, but the necessary areas had been renovated. The dinner served in private rooms was all deliciously seasoned. In particular, the simmered cherry snapper and the beef teppanyaki were excellent.

Breakfast was at a banquet hall called "Kinmokusei." We had a table seat with a beautiful view of the mountain range beyond the Chikugo River. I wonder where that mountain is? Breakfast was buffet style, and I ended up taking a bit of everything. I love mentaiko, so I couldn't resist. The fried chicken and sausages were nothing special and I didn't really need them. The salmon belly was delicious. The rice was average, with a slight fishy smell which was disappointing. The ham and eggs were cooked by the staff, which was a nice service. The croissant didn't toast properly because the toaster wasn't turned on. I thought it was toasting, but it wasn't. An old man opened the toaster without permission, so I had to tell him "that's mine," but he was inexplicably touching the croissant to check the temperature. It was annoying. I regret not stopping him and not eating it. The miso soup was nice because you could add your own toppings. It was white miso. There was a variety of fruits available. Eating lychee was a treat. The pineapple and orange were sweet and enjoyable. An Asian foreign female guest asked me in front of the coffee server, "I want a cafe latte. Is this it?" This ryokan had many foreign guests. In conclusion, it was a typical breakfast found in any ryokan or hotel, but somehow it felt a bit tastier than others I've had before. Thank you for the meal.

I went on a day trip to Fukuoka by peach flight! It was a quick trip and before I knew it, I was in Fukuoka. From there, I took a highway bus for about an hour to Harazuru Onsen, which was quite far. I enjoyed a day trip hot spring experience in a private room, where I had a delicious meal. I started with some lively abalone which got me excited! The steak was also very tasty. I tried various dishes from different baskets, including rice, chawanmushi, clear soup, and tempura. I was so full! The hot spring was like a jungle bath with trees growing inside. There was even a small slide. I was able to relax in the private room!

I moved from Oita to Fukuoka and stayed at this traditional hot spring inn for one night. The atmosphere is luxurious and the hot spring has a pleasant sulfur scent with excellent water quality. The outdoor bath allows you to enjoy the natural surroundings of trees, making it a truly impressive hot spring experience. The dinner, enjoyed with a beer, consisted of a variety of traditional Japanese dishes that brought out the flavors of the ingredients with rich broth. The sashimi was very fresh, and the grilled ayu fish was superb! The breakfast was buffet style, and it's easy to overeat with this kind of spread, but it was delicious. Thank you for the wonderful hospitality. It was a delightful meal.

Stayed at this inn on December 30th, 2015 for one night. It was a cold day with snow falling, but the staff greeted me and directed me to the parking spot. After checking in, I went straight to dinner at 6 pm on the 4th floor. The dining hall was spacious with tables lined up. The meal was served mostly cold, with only the hot pot, tempura, rice, and miso soup being warm. The portion was quite generous and filling. The view from the 4th floor was of the countryside with no neon lights. Breakfast the next morning was also on the 4th floor, in a buffet style. There wasn't much variety and it was crowded with families. The omelet station only served scrambled eggs, and when I asked for a fried egg, it came out overcooked. Overall, the breakfast lacked options for those who prefer Western-style breakfast. It would be nice if they could offer something that children would enjoy.

I wanted a quiet and relaxing experience, so I searched online, carefully selected a restaurant. The key points for my choice were: 1. Private bath available 2. Japanese cuisine, preferably a special set meal. Many restaurants met these criteria, but what really caught my attention were: 3. Private dining room for meals 4. Private dining room available until 3 pm 5. Private outdoor bath 6. Optional body care reservation online. Arrived at 11 am, had lunch at 12 pm (¥3980 for a basket lunch course), enjoyed the private bath at 1 pm (¥1600), and had body care at 2 pm (¥4000 for one person for esthetic care, ¥5000 for one person for body care). My mind and body were refreshed. The food, bath, and service were all excellent. Although not perfect, I believe they all deserve a passing grade, and when everything meets the mark, it shines for both parties. I was very satisfied.

In November 2014, my father and I visited a restaurant. We stayed in Fukusenka the night before. The restaurant offered a "bathing pass" similar to Kurokawa Onsen in Kumamoto. With this pass, day visitors could easily enjoy the baths. The pass cost 1500 yen for 7 tickets, and each accommodation required 2 or 3 tickets. We bought the pass and visited different baths before enjoying a bath and lunch at a specific place. The restaurant had private semi-private rooms for day visitors. The meal included a variety of dishes and was refillable. I chose a plan with a massage near the Kappa no Yu. My father enjoyed a 40-minute massage. Overall, it was a great experience with good baths and food. If it were closer, I would definitely visit again.

This is a long-established inn in Harutsuru Onsen, Fukuoka's hidden gem. On this day, a friend from Tokyo wanted to take a bath in the hot springs, so we stopped by for a meal and a soak. We started by relaxing in the large jungle hot spring, which we almost had to ourselves. After the bath, we had our meal at Shiba, an underground dining area where each table is a private room. We were surprised to find such a fine dining experience at a stop-in hot spring. We opted for the 2980 yen course for bath and meal. The meal began with apple vinegar. Unfortunately, I had to work in the afternoon, so I toasted with a non-alcoholic beer. The main course was the Hanakagozen, a visually appealing meal with seven small dishes in a basket. As we enjoyed the meal, freshly fried tempura was served, which was delicious. Soon after, a piping hot chawanmushi was brought to us. Then, we were served freshly steamed mountain vegetable rice. The soup served with rice was miso soup with seaweed. For dessert, we enjoyed a light almond jelly. Overall, the lunch was great value for money at 2980 yen, including a private dining experience and hot spring bath. The inn is located closest to Fukuoka at Harutsuru Onsen. Taijinkaku Address: 20 Hagiki Shiba, Asakura City, Fukuoka Tel/Reservation: 0946-62-1140 Business Hours: Daytime lunch only, 11:00-15:00 (Last order at 13:00) Closed: Irregular holidays.

Located about an hour's drive from Fukuoka city, in the quiet hot spring town of Genkaku Onsen in Chikugo. Known for its weak alkaline simple spring quality and sulfur spring, this hot spring resort is popular among women for its double beauty skin baths. This time, I used the day trip plan here. As a large ryokan, there is a constructed waterfall at the entrance with lanterns bearing the name of the establishment. The spacious lobby exudes elegance with a large vase filled with flowers. The meal is the most popular "Hanakago Zen" for women. The basket includes small dishes, persimmon with white sesame, seasonal assorted dishes, sashimi with amberjack, squid, and mackerel, and grilled dish with Arita chicken and yam gratin. The soft texture is delightful. The meal includes simmered dishes, salads, and is visually appealing. As the meal begins, a sukiyaki pot with plenty of meat and raw egg on the side is served. After a while, a warm chawanmushi arrives. Then, freshly fried tempura including shrimp, lotus root sandwich, eggplant, maruten, and green pepper are served one by one. The hot pot is served in a clay pot, and when the lid is removed and lime is added, the aroma becomes even more pronounced. Inside the clay pot, there are plenty of mushrooms and ginkgo nuts. Finally, rice sprinkled with dried fish flakes and white miso soup. Dessert is pear and grapes. The content is geared towards women, but overall, it is quite substantial and reasonable at 2625 yen with a bath included. After the meal, you can enjoy the hot spring here. With natural spring water and aromatherapy effects, you can fully refresh your body and mind.

Located on the banks of the Chikugo River in Fukuoka Prefecture, the tranquil hot spring resort of Haritsuru Onsen has a unique jungle bath. I was excited to visit this place and was looking forward to it. However, upon arrival, I found out that it was a gender-segregated bath, with men allowed in the evening and women in the morning. I woke up early at 6:30 am the next day to visit the jungle bath. The hot spring water was clear and well-maintained, with no leaves or debris floating in it. The water quality was simple sulfur spring, odorless, and slightly slippery. The women's bath had a variety of shampoos, conditioners, and body soaps available, as well as a jacuzzi and sauna. The meals exceeded my expectations, especially the breakfast. The dining area was spacious with tatami mats and tables and chairs. The staff were warm and welcoming, and I enjoyed dishes like salt-grilled ayu fish. The breakfast included dishes like rolled omelette with mentaiko and freshly cooked eggs. The staff were attentive and even provided a baby cot for my child. The building itself was old and maze-like, but the staff's hospitality made up for it. Overall, my experience at Haritsuru Onsen was relaxing and enjoyable.

During a bus trip exploring Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine in Fukuoka, we had our lunch and enjoyed a hot spring at this ryokan. The meal was served in a large room on the 5th floor, with a special basket meal consisting of various small dishes. It was described as a healthy meal, with no meat dishes included. The meal included small portions of simmered fish, squid simmered in soy sauce, chawanmushi (savory egg custard), sashimi of octopus and konjac, a quarter-sized portion of egg tofu, a small vegetable stew, thinly sliced fried eggplant, tempura shrimp, tempura shiso leaf, a bite-sized sponge cake, and a bite-sized persimmon fruit. While the presentation was elegant, the overall impression was that of simple vegetarian cuisine. The dishes were forgettable, neither particularly delicious nor unpleasant. It was a modest meal, with a child's lunch seen at another table looking more appetizing. The dinner served to overnight guests may offer a better dining experience.

Continuation of the trip ~ For those coming from Tabelog, please check the images here http://ameblo.jp/piyohiko2007-11-17/entry-11260062062.html. I keep copying and pasting, and in the draft stage the text is written properly, but for some reason it gets cut off when published. [photo:15] We got a private room for the meal ✌ This is great ✨ As I mentioned in the service section, there was no explanation of the plan, so we didn't know what was what.