Takeo Onsen, located in Takeo City, Saga Prefecture, is one of Kyushu's most prestigious hot springs with a history spanning approximately 1,300 years. Mentioned in the ancient Hizen no Kuni Fudoki chronicle, legend says Empress Jingu struck a rock with her sword to make the spring gush forth. During Toyotomi Hideyoshi's Korean campaigns, it served as a therapeutic bath for soldiers, and historical records show that Miyamoto Musashi, Siebold, and Ino Tadataka also bathed here. The iconic vermillion Romon gate, the symbol of the hot spring town, was designed by Saga-born architect Tatsuno Kingo, who also designed Tokyo Station and the Bank of Japan headquarters. Completed in 1914, both the Romon gate and the adjacent Shinkan building are designated Important Cultural Properties of Japan. The representative public bathhouse Motoyu was built in 1876 (Meiji 9) and is one of the oldest surviving wooden hot spring facilities in Japan, featuring high ceilings and spacious baths with a charming retro atmosphere. The water is a mildly alkaline simple spring with a pH of 8.5 and source temperature of 45-51 degrees Celsius. Known as a beauty bath for its excellent heat retention and moisturizing feel on the skin, Motoyu offers two pools: a hot bath and a warm bath. The Takeo Onsen area features three public bathhouses (Motoyu, Horayu, Saginoyu) and five private baths.