Hasami Onsen Yujirou

Yujirou is a day-use hot spring facility in the pottery town of Hasami, Higashisonogi District, Nagasaki Prefecture, reopened in 2010 after a full renovation. The spring water is an alkaline sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) type, celebrated as a skin-beautifying bath thanks to the dual effect of its alkaline and bicarbonate content. The source naturally contains 72 to 200 ppm of dissolved carbon dioxide, which is further enriched to create a high-concentration carbonated bath. In Germany and Eastern Europe, carbonated springs are known as Heart Baths and have been used therapeutically for centuries. All three indoor baths are fed by free-flowing source water, and even the showers run on hot spring water, an extravagant use of the mineral resource. Hasami Town is famed for Hasami-yaki pottery, a tradition rivaling neighboring Arita, and visitors can combine kiln tours with a relaxing soak. Frequented mainly by local regulars, Yujirou remains a hidden gem largely unknown to tourists.