Ureshino-Onsen Station opened on September 23, 2022 as part of the newly constructed Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen line, making it one of Japan's newest gateway stations to a historic hot spring destination. Located in Ureshino, Saga Prefecture on Kyushu Island, the station serves as the modern entry point to one of Japan's most renowned onsen towns, which has been welcoming visitors since the Edo Period.
The station provides direct access to Ureshino Onsen, famous throughout Japan as one of the country's premier hot spring destinations. The area's alkaline mineral waters are celebrated for their skin-beautifying properties, earning Ureshino recognition as one of Japan's three major beauty hot springs. Nestled in a serene basin surrounded by gentle mountains in southwestern Saga Prefecture, the town combines natural hot spring therapy with a rich tea culture spanning hundreds of years.
Visitors can experience the therapeutic waters at Siebold-No-Yu, a public bathhouse named after the 19th-century German scientist Philipp Franz von Siebold who appreciated the town's hot springs during his stay in Japan. The onsen district features over 30 hotels and ryokan, many offering private hot spring baths. Beyond the hot springs, Ureshino is renowned for its Ureshino tea, a local green tea variety with centuries of cultivation history that visitors can experience through traditional tea ceremonies and tastings at specialized facilities.
From Fukuoka's Hakata Station, travelers take the "Relay Kamome" limited express train for 60 minutes to Takeo Onsen, then transfer to the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen for a 7-minute ride to Ureshino-Onsen Station, with the entire journey costing approximately 4,000-4,500 yen. The station features two side platforms serving two tracks, though roughly half of all shinkansen trains pass through without stopping. Alternative routes include local JR lines to Takeo-Onsen Station followed by a 35-minute bus ride to the main onsen area. Most hot spring facilities charge admission fees ranging from 300-800 yen for day-use bathing, while ryokan rates vary significantly based on accommodation level and meal packages.
