Haratsuru Onsen Harazuru Onsen

Located in Asakura City, Fukuoka Prefecture, this is one of Kyushu's premier hot spring resorts, known as 'Hakata's Inner Parlor.' The hot spring town spreads across a sandbar surrounded by the Chikugo River, Kyushu's largest river, and its flood channel, with 23 inns and hotels. According to legend, the hot spring was discovered when a crane was seen bathing in the riverbed of the Chikugo River, giving it the name 'Harazuru' (field crane). It was discovered in the early Meiji period (over 140 years ago) and was cherished as a therapeutic bathing spot between the Kugumiya and Shiwa post stations along the Edo-period highway. There are three types of spring water: weakly alkaline simple hot spring, alkaline simple hot spring, and simple sulfur spring. Because it possesses two types of beauty-enhancing waters, it is called 'W Beautiful Skin Hot Spring.' The alkaline water removes dead skin cells, while the sulfur content removes melanin and is expected to brighten the skin. It boasts the most abundant hot water volume in Fukuoka Prefecture, with 34 springs producing 3,000 liters per minute. Selected as one of Japan's 100 Famous Hot Springs, cormorant fishing on the Chikugo River in summer has become a seasonal attraction. The representative day-trip facility 'Yagurumasou' is also selected as one of the Kyushu 88 Hot Springs.