Tsuetate Onsen

Tsuetate Onsen, nestled along the Tsuetate River in Aso District, Kumamoto Prefecture, is known as Kyushu's inner parlor. Its history dates back 1,800 years, with legends tracing its origin to being the first bath for the child who would become Emperor Ojin. The waters here are a mix of weak alkaline simple springs and chloride springs. They are also rich in metasilicic acid, which enhances the therapeutic effects of the hot springs, leaving the skin smooth and moisturized after bathing. Kobo Daishi, a famous Buddhist monk who visited in the early Heian period, was so impressed by the healing properties of the waters that he left a poem praising the springs.

The town's unique landscape, with steam rising from various spots along the river, enhances the travel experience and has made it a popular location for movie and music video shoots. The town features steam baths using the naturally high temperature (around 98 degrees Celsius) and abundant flow of the springs, as well as public steaming facilities where visitors can steam vegetables and eggs. Long cherished as a therapeutic bath destination, Tsuetate Onsen still retains a nostalgic charm. Every April, the town hosts the Koi Nobori Festival, where about 3,500 carp streamers swim through the air above the Tsuetate River in the refreshing spring breeze.