Kyushu Spring 2014 九州春季之旅 - JR Kyushu Hotel Blossom Hakata Chuo JR九州ホテル ブラッサム博多中央

Stayed 26.03.2014 (Wed)
Reserved thru' Booking.com
- Twin Room = 12,000 yen (exclusive of breakfast)

This is the 2nd hotel we stayed in Hakata. Compared to Miyako Hotel, JR Kyushu Hotel Blossom Hakata Chuo is newer in almost all aspects but the former has the classy flair. In terms of price, Blossom is cheaper than Miyako as well. There are two JR Kyushu hotels in Hakata, both strategically rooted near the train station - Blossom Hakata Chuo is located on the Hakata Exit, whereas Blossom Fukuoka is located on Chikusi Exit. Booked the twin room which are larger at 25 m2, with adequate walking space and could even occupy a side table with chairs. Modern design, business hotel concept, equipped with all the things one need for a good one night stay.

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What's nearby?

(1) Hakata JR Station, the busiest train station and gateway to other parts of Kyushu.

(2) Fukuoka city subway: Hakata Station (K11), on Kuko line (orange line)

• 3 stops away from Tenjin Station (K08). Transfer to Nishitetsu train to Dazaifu and Yanagawa. 
• 2 stops away from Fukuoka Domestic Terminal (K13).

Right: Delicious Hakata no Ishidatami from Chocolate Shop; Top left: Hakata JR Station signboard key chain from Tokyu Hands; Bottom left: Visited Doutor for breakfast before we departed from Hakata.

(3) JR Hakata City

• Houses two shopping mall: AMU Plaza and Hankyu.
• Tokyu Hands occupies five storeys here. On the first floor, a space is dedicated to the sale of Kyushu souvenirs and JR Kyushu merchandise. If you miss out on some of the merchandises sold on board the train, you may be able to find it here again. Bought a key chain with Hakata JR Station sign board here. 
• Chocolate Shop, located on the first floor just opposite to Tokyu Hands, is a famous confectionery and sweets shop which originated in 1942 in Hataka. One of their signature cake is Hakata no Ishidatami (博多の石畳), made up of layers of chocolate sponge cake and chocolate mousse, sandwiched with fresh cream and covered with chocolate powder. The rich chocolate mousse melts and fills up the pores in the light and fluffy sponge cake, leaving a satisfying chocolaty sensation in the mouth.   

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JR Kysuhu Hotel Blossom Hakata Chuo JR九州ホテル ブラッサム博多中央
〒812-0011 福岡県福岡市博多区博多駅前2-2-11
http://www.jrk-hotels.co.jp/en/Hakatachuo/

Kyushu Spring 2014 九州春季之旅 - Tsukimisho 旅館月見荘

Stayed 25.03.2014
Reserved thru' email.
- Half board (dinner & breakfast), twin sharing Japanese style room: 14,850 yen/person

View of Tsukimisho from Saraku.

Spent some time searching for a hotel/ryokan in Ibusuki and decided to go with Tsukimisho, a family operated ryokan located just opposite Saraku, the public sand bath facility. Most of the accommodation here are located near the coastal area, about 20 - 30 minutes walk away from Ibusuki JR Station. Wanted to avoid large scale hotels which are normally crowded with tour groups such as Shusuien (秀水園) and Ginsyou (吟松), yet stay close to Saraku, and Tsukimiso fulfilled both criteria aptly.

Hospitality. Tsukimisho is a small scale, half century old (founded in 1957) ryokan operated by a family. Currently the business is managed by the third generation. With only seven rooms available, do make sure room reservation is arranged as early as possible especially during peak holiday seasons. Sent my enquires and reservations through email and the owner was prompt in reply. Upon request, he also helped to arrange a sightseeing taxi for us to visit several attractions in Ibusuki. Majority of the staffs here are not proficient in English, but they are patient in their explanation, coupled with hand gestures and always seen to be full of smiles and energy. Met the family - the owner's parents, his wife and adorable children on the next morning, who greeted us warmly and gathered the reassurance that our stay had been pleasant so far. Tsukimisho also provides shuttle service to/from Ibusuki JR Station - just need to inform them beforehand to enjoy this complimentary service (service is available after 3 pm, departing from Ibusuki JR Station and before 10 am, departing from the ryokan). 

Facilities. During our 3 hours long sightseeing journey in Ibusuki, our driver stopped by a coastal road and explained to us that several of laydown pipings seen here were used to transfer hot spring waters from the source to hotels/ryokans in Ibusuki, including Tsukimisho. Frankly speaking, hot spring facilities in Tsukimiso is not at its best. There are two communal public bathroom, separated by gender, each having an indoor and an outdoor section. The outdoor pool is actually a sheltered extension of the main building to the road and is totally covered, therefore you won't get to see the nearby beach despite the close proximity. Room was typical Japanese style with tatami mats. As this ryokan is only two storey tall and is separated from the nearby coastal area by Saraku, we could not get enjoy a sea view from the rooms.

Food. A good spread of food was served during dinner, and this included some dishes which I have not eaten before. Like their signature pork spare ribs which were stewed in shochu, brown sugar and miso - well-caramelized on the outside, tender and moist in the inside. Had my first taste of banded blue sprat sashimi (きびなご) as well; though it looked slimy, the sashimi was fresh without any tint of fishy smell. Other dishes served include an appetizer platter, chicken tataki, sashimi, tempura, kurobuta (black pig) hot pot, etc. Breakfast was much simpler - rice accompanied with salad, pickled vegetables, soft boiled egg, meat balls, grilled fish and miso soup.

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Tsukimisho 旅館月見荘
〒891-0406 鹿児島県指宿市湯の浜5-24-8天然砂むし温泉「砂楽」前
http://www.tsukimi.jp/

How to get there?
(1) By taxi. Approx 4 mins from Ibusuki JR Station.
(2) By foot. Approx 25 mins from Ibusuki JR Station.

Kyushu Spring 2014 九州春季之旅 - Hotel Urbic Kagoshima ホテルアービック鹿児島

Stayed 24.03.2014
Booked thru' Booking.com.

Top left: View from hotel room

Most hotels are found in two main areas in Kagoshima city - near Kagoshima Chuo JR Station and Tenmokan area. Decided to go with Hotel Urbic, which is a stone throw away from Kagoshima Chuo JR Station. Its operation follows the typical business hotel model in Japan, which is aimed to provide economical and no frills accommodation to travellers.

Booked twin room (inclusive of breakfast) at an affordable rate of 10,000 yen. Was surprised to get a rather spacious room (22 m2) with reasonable walking space. Similar to other hotel chains, all basic amenities are well taken care of here. A decent number of dishes were served during breakfast buffet. Though I could not find one prominent feature that make this hotel more outstanding than others, its competitive rates, strategic location and clean environment are good enough reasons for a traveller to stay in this hotel.

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What's nearby? 

(1) Kagoshima Chuo JR Station & AMU Plaza, less than a minute walk away from the hotel.

(2) Kagoshima Chuo Ekimae Station, less than 2 minutes walk away from the hotel.

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Hotel Urbic Kagoshima ホテルアービック鹿児島
〒890-0045　鹿児島県鹿児島市武1丁目3番1号
http://www.urbic.jp/

Kyushu Spring 2014 九州春季之旅 - Gettouan ゆふいん月燈庵

Stayed 22.03.2014
Booked thru' Booking.com
- Standard suite = 54,000 yen (2 occupants)

As with every trip, I will try to arrange one day of luxurious accommodation. For this trip in Kyushu, it was Gettouan in Yufuin. As Yufuin is a hot spring town, numerous hotels and ryokan can be found around the main onsen street leading all the way to Kirinko. Decided to stay away from the heart of the town and chose to stay in the Gettouan, which is tucked away in a tranquil and remote environment. After spending an entire afternoon to explore Yufuin, we were looking forward a good night rest in Gettouan. For guests staying in the ryokan, complimentary pick up service to/fro Yufuin JR Station can be arranged in advance. Unfortunately, we had to grab a taxi as the pick up was fully booked for that day.

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Highlights:

Bottom left: Suspension bridge that links the main building and accommodation.

Service, room & facilities. First we were led to the bar counter where tea was served as we waited for check-in proceedings to be completed. A mandarin speaking staff was assigned to us, who inquired our desired timing for both dinner and breakfast on the next day and explained to us the facilities in Gettouan as he brought us to our room. The entire compound is actually much more bigger than it looks. In total, there are only 18 units within this 10,000 m3 site surrounded by lush greenery. From the main building, we had to cross a suspension bridge to reach the other highland where the rooms are located. Though the area may be huge, clear signs are put up to make sure guests do not lose their way here.

Bottom left: Communal bathhouse; Center: Private outdoor bath; Bottom right: Common area to enjoy complimentary coffee.

Reserved the standard suites (Yamabuki and Tsubaki) for tonight's stay. House is divided into two separate areas with 8 and 6 tatami mats respectively, and can occupy up to 4 person. Was delighted to see a kotatsu, a low table with heater beneath, which we tucked our legs into comfortably when the temperatures became colder at night. Every room in Gettouan is also equipped with an open air hot spring bath. Used it only once because temperature was less than 5 degC and the washing area was located outdoor as well - already felt terribly cold after washing up.

There is a common area where guests can relax to smoothing music, read a book while enjoying a cup of coffee - a good place to hang out after enjoying the bath. Night may be still young for some - Bar Ripe is located in the main building for guests to enjoy a glass of cocktail before heading to bed. My sister and I braved the cold weather at night to cross the bridge to explore the bar and ended up having a glass of mocktail here (just for the sake of sitting around in the bar)! 

Sunset.

Hot springs with a view. There are two communal bathhouses separated by gender. Hot spring source is mildly alkaline and temperature here has been adjusted to 42 degC. Each bathhouse has an indoor and outdoor section. Highly recommend the outdoor section because the size of the pool is much larger and a spectacular view of Mt Yufu awaits here. Came here for a soak before dinner and I was mesmerised by a brightly lit Mt Yufu during sunset.

Sunrise.

Food splendor. Both meals were served in a private room in Keisuikyo (溪酔居), a separate building located in between the luxurious and standard suites.

Left: Beautiful tableware arrangement; Right: Fresh sashimi and Bungo beef as appetisier.

Yuzu was featured in many of the dishes in their spring edition kaiseki dinner menu. As usual the meal kicked off with a small glass of wine. This time round, a milky looking nigori zake (濁り酒), an unfiltered type of sake, was served. Appetiser was Oita's Bungo beef (豊後牛) and seasonal vegetables, accompanied with a refreshing sauce. Next was a bowl of sakura flavoured sumashijiru (a clear broth cooked with kombu and bonito flakes) with a minced prawn and fish meat ball - love the subtle yet flavourful broth. Enjoyed the fresh sashimi which has a tint of citrus taste as it was placed onto a slice of yuzu fruit.

Left: Sakura flavoured Sumashijiru; Middle: Marbled Bungo beef cooked on hot stone. Right: Pheasant hot pot.

It was also my first time eating a pheasant hot pot (nabe) - tasted like chicken meat to me and the soup has wonderfully extracted the sweet flavours of the pheasant meat and vegetables. Marveled at the sizzling cubes of marbled Bungo beef cooked on hot stone. Was truly yearning for more meat - juicy cubes of grilled meat melting in the mouth! Had a scoop of yuzu sorbet to cleanse the palate before the last rice dish was served. Completely different from previous kaiseki, we had sansai (wild vegetables) and rice dumplings wrapped in leaves which came with an eggy gravy to dip into. The entire dinner was wrapped up with a cheese cake drizzled with a yuzu flavoured sauce.

Bottom right: The glass of mocktail we had in Bar Ripe.

Have to applaud for the chef behind this sumptuous and delicious dinner course! Throughout the entire meal, I was also impressed by the table setting and exquisite tableware used - such as the tree slice with well defined growth rings which was used as the presentation plate. Had an equally pleasant breakfast as well on the following day.

Breakfast.

Conclusion. If I have to nitpick or compare Gettouan to another luxurious accommodation I have stayed before (such as Sanyoan in Hokkaido), I felt that the staff could have been more "attentive" at times. To quote an example: the sliding door could have been closed more gently when the waitress was moving in and out of the private dinning area. Overall stay in Gettouan has been pleasant - fully immersed myself in the serenity of the natural atmosphere and have high acclamation for their food creations.

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Gettouan ゆふいん月燈庵
〒879-5102　大分県由布市湯布院町川上295-2 
http://www.gettouan.com/en/

Kyushu Spring 2014 九州春季之旅 - Ryokan Wakaba わかば

Stayed 21.03.2014 (1 night)

Booked via Booking.com

Although there is a decent number of accommodation options in Kurokawa Onsen, most of them are small scale and do not have many rooms available. Therefore it is advisable to book early especially when this hidden gem is receiving more media attention over the years. Ryokan Wakaba is located nearest to the main bus stop and is less than 5 mins walk to the main hot spring street. You can also request staffs to pick you up at the bus stop if given prior notice. 

Hospitality: A traditional Japanese two storey building, Wakaba is a small scale family run ryokan with only 15 rooms. The immense hospitality showed by the staff here made me felt at ease during my stay. Everyone here serve you with a smile on their faces, regardless of the type of tasks they are handling. As we were brought into our room. the attendant tried her best to explain the features of the hotel (in Japanese mixed with a few simple English words) with hand gestures. Despite us feeling tired after a long bus ride which we took from Mt Aso, we were thoroughly brightened up by her enthusiasm and friendly personality. During meals, the attendant also gave his very best to describe every dish that was served to us despite the language barrier between us. To me, these are the little gestures that will leave memorable impression in people's mind and most importantly, attract guests to come back again.

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Highlights:

Facilities: Booked a twin sharing room, with half board included, at 15,750 yen/pax. Room has a toilet but no bathroom. However, this was not an issue since we utilized the communal bath house offered by the ryokan. Each guest will also get his/her own set of Yukata, towels, socks and toiletries. One habit that I have made (to the point it has become a ritual after multiple trips to Japan) when staying in a ryokan is to first make myself a pot of green tea and enjoy the snacks before heading for my first soak. There is a small shop near the front desk where guests can grab local made/produced souvenirs before departing. 

Hot spring: Two bathhouses are separated by gender. Each bathhouse has a indoor and an open air pool. I prefer the open air hot spring pool (also known as "Rotenburo") where one can catch a glimpse of Chikugo river. At one corner of the pool, the depth is reduced allowing one to lie down while soaking in the hot spring waters - quite a comfortable experience!

Apart from the communal pools, Wakaba also has several private hot spring bathrooms which guests can reserve at no additional charges. We did try out one but the temperature was just too hot for us to even put our legs in. Hot spring water is mildly acidic and source temperature is as high as 60 degC. It is known for curing cuts and burns, and also beneficial to those with skin problems or gynecological illnesses.

Meals. Japanese style multi course dinner was served in our room. The highlight of the meal was horse meat sashimi (Basashi) - a local delicacy in Kumamoto Prefecture. The thinly sliced marbled meat was not chewy like what I anticipated it to be. For me, it felt like eating any other tuna sashimi and definitely not something that I will crave for. The sumptuous dinner also comprised of mouth watering grilled kuro wagyu beef, skin crisp salt grilled yamame trout, tender braised pork belly, yasai tempura and seasonal fruit mousse cake. Overall, I will give a thumb up for the entire dinner course. Had our breakfast in the main dining hall - rice was served with salted salmon, tamago, pickled vegetables, fresh salad and tofu soup.  

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Ryokan Wakaba わかば
〒869-2402　熊本県阿蘇郡南小国町黒川温泉
http://www.ryokanwakaba.com/



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Video: Found this excellent Youtube video featuring Ryokan Wakaba.

Kyushu Spring 2014 九州春季之旅 - Mitsui Garden Hotel Kumamoto 三井ガーデ ンホテル熊本

Stayed 20.03.2014, 23.03.2014
Booked via Rakuten Travel

Kumamon craze. Japan is truly a land of mascots, each has its own distinct features which are associated with the place or thing it is promoting. Kumamon, a black plump bear with red cheeks, stood out valiantly from the rest. This mascot was first created to promote the extension of Kyushu Shinkansen to Kagoshima in 2011. Its popularity was unprecedented to the point it was even appointed the ambassador of Kumamoto, making domestic and overseas trips to promote Kyushu. Kumamon can be spotted everywhere within the city - on posters, banners, sign boards, etc. His contribution to revive tourism in Kyushu has "earned" him an office in the city too (Kumamon Square located in Tsuruya Departmental Store)!

His popularity has brought along numerous business opportunities - an extensive line up of merchandise are continuously being churned out and local hotels are offering Kumamon themed rooms to boost occupancy rates. So far from what I have seen, The New Otani has the most elaborate Kumamon themed room and is also the most pricey (15,000 yen/person) among all.
The New Otani website: http://www.newotani-kumamoto.co.jp/event/pickupkumamon/

Was hoping to stay in a themed room but did not want to splurge too much on it. Fortunately, I discovered a cheaper option to get close to this black bear. Mitsui Garden Hotel, which is located closer to the busier hub of Kumamoto city, offers similar themed room with simpler design at a much affordable rate. 

Highlights:

- Booked a Kumamon themed twin room (inclusive breakfast) for 11,600 yen, and a normal twin room for 11,000 yen. Stayed in this hotel on two separate nights (Day 6 and 9). Similar business hotel model, all rooms are equipped with basic amenities, sufficient for a pleasant night stay.  

- Kumamon themed room. A conventional twin room was decorated with numerous Kumamon goods. The first object that caught my attention upon entering the room was this huge Kumamon plushie which sat at the work station/dressing table. Kumamon cushions are placed on the beds and rest chairs. Beds were also decorated with runners will various expressions of Kumamon. Moved on to the bathroom and saw a shower curtain imprinted with Kumamon! In addition, mugs, complimentary mineral water bottles and clear files, pictures hung in the room, were all embedded with this lovable mascot. Though decoration was not very detailed, the ambience can still bring out that sense of excitement from guests (regardless of age) occupying the room for the night.

- Breakfast was buffet style and a mix of Western and Japanese dishes were served. Lotus root stuffed with spicy mustard and miso and fried in yellow batter (also known as Karashi Renkon), created from a traditional recipe which is said to have originated more than 300 years ago, was also spotted on the breakfast table. Overall, dinning experience was satisfactory.

Karashi Renkon

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Mitsui Garden Hotel Kumamoto 三井ガーデンホテル熊本
〒860-0012　熊本市中央区紺屋今町1-20
http://www.gardenhotels.co.jp/kumamoto/

How to get there?

(1) City Tram (Line A) - board at Kumamato JR Station and alight at Karashimacho (辛島町). A 5 min walk from the tram station.

(2) Taxi - takes about 5 mins from Kumamoto JR Station.

Kyushu Spring 2014 九州春季之旅 - Dormy Inn Nagasaki 出島の湯 ドーミーイン長崎

Stayed 19.03.2014 (1 night)
Booked thru' Agoda.

Hotels in Nagasaki city are pretty scattered. On most occasions, I tend to choose hotels that are adjacent to train station mainly for convenience reasons. Decided to stay slightly further from the train station and picked a hotel at the Chinatown district. By streetcar, its about four stations away from Nagasaki JR Station.

First time staying in Dormy Inn and it exceeded my expectations (though the name suggested that it is an inn). More than an inn, this hotel has its own public bath and sauna facilities and provide free supper at night - two perks that identifies itself from other business hotel chains. Located just in front of Chinatown street, the hotel has injected some Chinese style elements amid its modern design e.g. decorative windows and lamps. Front desk is not located on the ground floor - have to take a lift up to third floor. Restaurant and public bath are also located on the same level.

Complimentary soba at night.

Stayed in a twin room (21 m2) - room is spacious with adequate walking space and equipped with basic necessities. After utilising accumulated points from Agoda, one twin room stay per night cost about ~140 SGD. Did find time to utilise their public bath and it was not too bad - two to three pools with different water quality (had one with floating yuzu fruits). At night (2130 - 2300 hrs), they offered free buckwheat soba as supper. Despite being complimentary, the quality was not compromised at all - enjoyed my hot bowl of soba very much! And I actually preferred the soba to the breakfast that was provided on the following morning. Later did I know, this complimentary soba was actually unique to Dormy Inn chain of hotels (not exclusive to Nagasaki branch).

All in all, a pleasant first time experience in a Dormy Inn hotel, and I am now always on a lookout for their branches whenever I plan a trip to Japan.

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What's nearby?

(1) Chinatown street (長崎新地中華街), located just in front of the hotel.  

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Dormy Inn Nagasaki 出島の湯 ドーミーイン長崎
http://www.hotespa.net/hotels/nagasaki/

(1) By Streetcar - From Nagasaki JR Station, take line 1 heading for Shokakuji Shita (正覚寺下). Alight at Tsukimachi (築町).

Kyushu Spring 2014 九州春季之旅 - Hotel Okura JR Huis Ten Bosch ホテルオークラJRハウステンボス

Stayed 18.03.2014 (1 night)
Booked thru' Japanican.

Staying near Huis Ten Bosch was already part of the initial plan because I foresee we would be spending the entire day in the theme park. The lead option was to stay within the theme park, and there are three hotels to choose from - Hotel Amsterdam, Hotel Europe and Hotel ForestVilla. Gave up the idea almost immediately after knowing the room rates (~40,000 yen for a twin room in Hotel Amsterdam and ~50,000 yen for a twin room in Hotel Europe & Hotel ForestVilla). The cheaper options were Hotel Okura and Hotel Nikko, and both of them were located near the entrance of the theme park. Chose the former because it was the closest to the train station.

Highlights:

- Design of this building was inspired by Amsterdam Central Railway Station. The exterior looks very elegant and majestic, and felt like it was part of the theme park. Personally I haven't been to Amsterdam before, but it does bear high resemblances to the pictures found online.

View of Huis Ten Bosch from hotel room.

- Booked the twin room (facing train station, inclusive of breakfast) at 20,000 yen (~125 SGD). Not too sure whether it was due to low occupancy rate that day, our rooms were upgraded to the side facing the theme park. A good view of Huis Ten Bosch and European style cottages/houses can be seen from our room, which made this upgrade pretty worthwhile. Room was very spacious (>30 m2) and cosy, more than enough for a good night rest after spending the entire day & evening in the park.

Theme park beautifully lit up as the sky darkened.

- Hotel also has its own hot spring communal baths, and apparently this is the only one you can find around the area. Hot spring source contains sodium and calcium chlorides, and water is slightly brownish in colour due to the presence of iron and manganese. Public bath facilities are closed between 0000 to 0600 hrs, and tend to get crowded after the theme park is closed for the day (everyone flocking back to take a bath before bedtime). Visited the public bath early in the morning (~ 0615 hrs) and was surprised to see quite a decent group of people enjoying their first soak of the day. There is a Family Mart (but not operating around the clock, till 2300 hrs), souvenir shop (where you can grab Huis Ten Bosch's related merchandises, till 2200 hrs) and even a bakery (till 1900 hrs) are operated within the hotel.

Bottom: Breakfast facing the houses and dock in Camellia restaurant.

- Breakfast was held in Camellia (カメリア). Selected a seat near the tall glass windows overlooking beautiful European style houses and their own dock. Meal was buffet style with a good selection of both Western and Japanese cuisine. Was targeting the Western section for that morning. Excited to see a omelette station where you can choose your favourite fillings and have your food cooked on the spot by the chef. There were also various types of bread to choose from, however still not as impressive as what I have experienced before in Hokkaido (Kushiro Royal Inn).

- In short, Hotel Okura has a lot to offer: convenient location to the biggest theme park in Nagasaki, cosy rooms, hot spring facilities and various restaurants all housed within this majestic looking building.

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Hotel Okura JR Huis Ten Bosch ホテルオークラJRハウステンボス
 〒859-3296 長崎県佐世保市ハウステンボス町10番
http://www.jrhtb.hotelokura.co.jp/
< 5 mins walk from Huis Ten Bosch JR Station.

Kyushu Spring 2014 九州春季之旅 - Warakuen 和楽園

Stayed 17.03.2014 (1 night)
Booked thru' Japanican.

Highlights: 

- Ureshino is well known for its skin enhancing hot spring waters and high quality green tea production. Warakuen, a traditional Japanese style hotel, combines these two traits together, offering guests a unque experience. Hotel offers complimentary pick up service to/fro Ureshino Bus Center. If you plan to use this service, you can give them a call in advance or get help from the staffs in Tourist Information Center (I did the latter).

- Booked a Japanese style twin room, with half board included (dinner and breakfast), at 27,000 yen (~170 SGD). Was given a room which overlooked the scenic Ureshino River and onsen town. A small cafe and souvenir shop are located on the ground floor; local products such like green tea and Arita's well known porcelain tableware can be found here.

- Soak yourself in a green tea onsen. There are two communal bathhouses, separated for men and women usage. Both bathhouses are closed from 0000 - 0600 hrs and swapped for the opposite gender usage after that. In the outdoor pool, there is a "tea pot" which adds hot spring water into the pool continuously. Bags containing Ureshino's tea leaves are actually stuffed inside the tea pot, which makes the water source light brown in colour. There are also tea bags placed on the sides for you to rub them on your body; extracting the goodness of green tea into your skin through this process. Spring water in Ureshino is rich in sodium bicarbonate and sodium chloride, whereas green tea contains catechin (antioxidant), Vitamin C, caffeine, bringing about anti-bacterial and skin whitening effects.

- Green tea in Japanese cuisine. Japanese style multi course meal was served during dinner. The sumptuous meal started off with a small glass of umeshu, followed by appetiser, fresh sashimi, mushrooms and vegetables boiled in asari clams soup, steamed wagyu beef, sakura glutinous rice dumpling, tempura (bamboo shoot and eggplant), rice with pickles and miso soup, and lastly green tea tofu pudding to cleanse the palette. Green tea was also provided in a bowl in which leaves can be grinded and sprinkled onto the food. Overall, dinner was exceptional.

Sumptuous Japanese style dinner

- Was excited to see Ureshino Onsen's famous yudofu served during breakfast - silky and smooth texture like what we had for lunch in Soan Yokocho the day before. Green tea porridge was also surprisingly delicious and aromatic. Overall dining experience on both days have been pleasant and secluded since we were given a room to ourselves. Such moments to enjoy meals together as a family have become increasingly precious to me because dinner/breakfast time is always different for every family member (as we return home from work at different timings).

Yudofu and green tea porridge served for breakfast

Conclusion: Ureshino Onsen is still one of my favourite hot spring towns to date (despite writing this review one year later). The therapeutic ambience and smooth hot spring waters have left a deep impression in my mind. There are times when I think of visiting this area again on my next Japan trip. Its tranquility makes one feel at ease and relaxed, far from the hustle and bustle of city life - an element that will attract city dwellers to this place.

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Warakuen 和楽園
〒843-0302 佐賀県嬉野市嬉野町下野甲33
http://www.warakuen.co.jp/

Kyushu Spring 2014 九州春季之旅 - Hakata Miyako Hotel 博多都ホテル

Stayed 15.03.2014 - 17.03.2014 (2 days)
Booked thru' Booking.com

- There are always many accommodation options near major train stations. Hakata was the first and last stop of my 12 days trip in Kyushu. Stayed in two different hotels - Hakata Miyako Hotel and JR Kyushu Hotel Blossom Hakata Chuo, located within walking distance from East (Chikusi) and West exit of the train station. 

- Take the escalator up to second level where the hotel lobby is located. A cafe can be found on the same floor. Booked a twin room (without breakfast) at 23,408 yen (~ 293 SGD) for two nights. Was satisfied with my stay here: reasonably sized room with walking space and equipped with all basic amenities. Convenient location makes this hotel a popular choice for travellers. 

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What's nearby?

(1) Hakata JR Station, the busiest train station and gateway to other parts of Kyushu.

(2) Fukuoka city subway: Hakata Station (K11), on Kuko line (orange line)
- 3 stops away from Tenjin Station (K08). Transfer to Nishitetsu train to Dazaifu and Yanagawa.
- 2 stops away from Fukuoka Domestic Terminal (K13).

(3) JR Hakata City, connected seamlessly to the train station.
- Houses two shopping malls: AMU Plaza and Hankyu.
- Tokyu Hands is located near West exit of train station. Visit its first floor to shop for exclusive Kyushu souvenirs and JR Kyushu merchandises.
- Many fast food outlets, cafes and restaurants to choose from. Settled our breakfast at the train station on both days.

(4) Yodobashi-Hakata, well known electronics chain store in Japan.
- Exit from East (Chikusi) exit and turn right.
- g.u. (same owner as Uniqlo) and ABC Mart are located within the same building.

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Hakata Miyako Hotel 博多都ホテル

〒812－0013 福岡県福岡市博多区博多駅東2-1-1（博多）

http://www.miyakohotels.ne.jp/hakata/
Less than 2 mins walk from East exit (Chikusi exit).