Wataya Besso

Wataya Besso is a long-established ryokan representing the Ureshino Onsen area in Saga Prefecture, a hot-spring town with about 1,300 years of history that prospered as a post town since the Edo period. Its origin traces back to the “Kamitsukaiya,” where the Satsuma Domain Shimazu family rested during travels; as a remnant, the Shimazu family crest is still displayed on part of the building. The vast 20,000-tsubo grounds include a Japanese garden centered on the clear stream of the Ureshino River, offering seasonal beauty. The lodging buildings were designed by the famed architect Kisho Kurokawa, with around 100 rooms. Furniture, decorations, and fittings in the rooms are maintained and renovated by dedicated craftsmen, and can feel like works of art. Room options include open-air-bath rooms, view-bath rooms, modern suites, modern rooms, and Japanese-style rooms, allowing choice to match your needs. Meals feature kaiseki using abundant fresh seafood from the Ariake Sea and Genkai Sea; the signature dish is “onsen yudofu,” long loved since the Edo period. By public transportation, take the JR bus about 40 minutes from JR Takeo-Onsen Station. By car, it is about 5 minutes from Ureshino IC (Nagasaki Expressway).