Takeo Onsen
Takeo Onsen, An Old Hot Spring Town Of Saga With A Red Lacquered Romon Gate Designed By Kingo Tatsuno, The Architect Of Tokyo Station, A Communal Bath And A Huge Sacred Camphor Tree. A Short Stop On The Nagasaki And Saga Route. · Takeo, Saga
Takeo Onsen is an old hot spring town in Saga prefecture, in northwest Kyushu, said to have a bathing history of about 1,300 years - confirm. Its centre is the red lacquered Romon gate, built in 1915 to a design by Tatsuno Kingo, the architect of Tokyo Station, and often said to stand without a single nail - confirm. Around it are the Motoyu bathhouse and a public bath, where locals soak in plain, soft water. A short walk away, Takeo Shrine holds a giant camphor tree often said to be about 3,000 years old, and a camphor forest rises behind it - confirm. A famous bookshop-library by Tsutaya gives the town an unexpected modern stop. The town suits couples, day trippers on the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen and anyone who likes plain, unhurried onsen. It takes half a day, or an overnight stay. It is worth the stop for the gate, the tree and a soak, and not worth a long detour for the water alone, which is gentle rather than dramatic.
Takeo-cho, Takeo, Saga, a short walk from Takeo-Onsen Station on the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen or the JR Sasebo Line, Takeo, Saga, Japan
Public baths commonly open from the early morning to late evening, with a cleaning break or one closing day a month - confirm. The Romon gate, the shrine grounds and the camphor tree are open all day and free to see. The library and shops follow normal shop hours, usually until early evening. From Fukuoka or Nagasaki, the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen stops at Takeo-Onsen Station in about an hour - confirm; the town centre is a short walk or a short bus. IC cards work on JR, but bring cash for baths and small shops.