9 Best Hot Springs for a Relaxing Soak in Kyushu｜Discover the Best “Nuru-yu” Hot Springs

For many travelers, no trip to Kyushu is complete without experiencing its famous hot springs.

But during summer and the lingering heat of early autumn, soaking in a very hot bath may not sound especially appealing.

That's when Kyushu's “nuru-yu” hot springs come into their own. These are naturally cool or mildly warm hot springs that are perfect for taking a long, relaxing soak.

Across Kyushu, you can find all kinds of unique nuru-yu experiences: carbonated springs covered in tiny bubbles, naturally cold spring water, silky-smooth mineral-rich baths, milky sulfur springs, and more.

For this guide, we selected nine hot springs based not simply on their water temperature, but on whether they offer a distinctive bathing experience that you can only enjoy at that particular destination.

From seaside baths to secluded mountain hot springs, here are nine nuru-yu destinations worth adding to your next Kyushu trip.

3 Things to Look for When Enjoying Nuru-yu in Kyushu

The appeal of nuru-yu is about much more than simply being “not too hot.”

As you explore the hot springs featured in this guide, you'll find that each offers a different way to enjoy the experience.

First, consider the mineral composition.
Carbonated springs, sulfur springs, and other types of mineral-rich water can create very different sensations on the skin and distinctive bathing experiences.

Second, consider the temperature.
Temperatures range from naturally cold springs around 30°C to mildly warm baths around 36–38°C. Some facilities also allow you to move between warm and cold baths.

And third, consider the location.
Mountain landscapes, waterfalls, the sea, and historic hot spring towns can all become part of the experience, adding another dimension to your time in the bath.

Once you start looking at these three elements, visiting nuru-yu hot springs becomes more than simply finding a cooler place to bathe in summer. It becomes another way to discover the nature, culture, and landscapes of Kyushu.

1. Lamune Onsen｜Taketa, Oita

If you're exploring Kyushu's nuru-yu hot springs, a great place to start is Nagayu Onsen in Taketa, Oita.

Among the hot springs here, Lamune Onsen is particularly famous for its carbonated spring water. Even its name, “Lamune,” refers to the Japanese carbonated soft drink.

The outdoor bath has a spring temperature of around 32°C. Once you enter the water, countless tiny bubbles cling to your skin, creating the unusual sensation of soaking in a giant bottle of sparkling water.

Rather than enduring a steaming hot bath on a summer day, you can relax in the cooler water while enjoying the fresh outdoor air.

The building itself has a distinctive architectural design, making a visit memorable even beyond the bathing experience.

It is a great place to combine with a stroll around Nagayu Onsen and its surrounding hot spring town.

Address: 7676-2 Nagayu, Naoiri-machi, Taketa, Oita
Hours: 10:00 AM–10:00 PM
Admission: Adults ¥800, elementary school students ¥400, preschool children ¥200, private family bath ¥3,000 per hour
Closed: First Wednesday of each month (second Wednesday in January and May)

2. Nurunuru Arita Onsen｜Arita, Saga

With a name that literally evokes its slippery texture, Nurunuru Arita Onsen in Arita, Saga, is certainly memorable.

The spring is known for its smooth, silky sensation on the skin. The alkaline cold mineral spring water is heated before being used in the main bath, creating a distinctive bathing experience.

Even more interesting is the separate bath containing the natural spring water at its original, cooler temperature.

Combining the warm bath with the cold spring allows you to enjoy a style of bathing that is quite different from a typical hot spring.

Arita is also famous for Arita ware, one of Japan's best-known pottery traditions. Consider combining a visit to the hot spring with a pottery tour, creating a relaxing “Arita day” of shopping and bathing.

Address: 902 Minamihara Ko, Arita, Nishimatsuura District, Saga
Hours: 10:30 AM–9:00 PM
Admission: High school students and older ¥800, elementary and junior high school students ¥500, children aged 3 to preschool ¥300
Closed: Irregular holidays

3. Nomon-yu Natural Carbonated Hot Spring｜Nagasaki City, Nagasaki

If you'd like to combine a hot spring with ocean views, head to Nomozaki in southern Nagasaki City.

Nomon-yu Natural Carbonated Hot Spring is located within Nomon Nagasaki, a hotel in the Nomozaki area.

The spring temperature is around 31°C. The naturally carbonated water combines a pleasantly cool temperature with the distinctive sensation of a carbonated spring.

Another major attraction is its location in Nomozaki.

The area overlooks the sea, and on clear days you may even be able to see Hashima Island, better known as Gunkanjima. Nearby attractions include the Nagasaki City Dinosaur Museum, making it easy to combine the hot spring with sightseeing around Nomozaki.

The combination of ocean views, dinosaurs, and carbonated hot spring water makes this a very different kind of Nagasaki experience from the city center.

Address: 692-1 Nomozaki, Nagasaki City, Nagasaki
Hours: 10:00 AM–9:00 PM (last admission 8:30 PM)
Admission: Adults ¥780 weekdays / ¥880 weekends and holidays, children aged 3 to elementary school ¥420 weekdays / ¥480 weekends and holidays
Closed: Third Wednesday of the month ※May vary depending on the month

4. Akagawa Onsen Akagawa-so｜Taketa, Oita

If you want to enjoy a cool hot spring surrounded by nature, head into the mountains of the Kuju Highlands.

Akagawa Onsen Akagawa-so is a hot spring inn located deep in the mountains, known for its milky water with a distinctive bluish tint.

The natural spring temperature is around 23°C. That's quite cold for a hot spring, but the bathing area also has heated baths, allowing you to experience different temperatures during your visit.

One of the most memorable features is the outdoor bath.

From the cold spring bath, you can look directly toward a waterfall. The experience is about more than the cool water itself—you can also enjoy the mountain air and the sound of flowing water.

Combined with a drive through the Kuju Highlands, it makes an excellent destination for a summer escape.

Address: 4008-1 Kuju-machi, Taketa, Oita
Hours: 9:00 AM–6:00 PM (last admission 5:00 PM)
Admission: Adults ¥1,000, elementary school students ¥700, preschool children ¥300
Closed: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday

5. Yunomoto Onsen｜Takaharu, Miyazaki

If you are not quite ready for a truly cold spring but would like to try a cooler bath, Yunomoto Onsen in Takaharu, Miyazaki, is worth a visit.

The facility has several baths with different temperatures. You can experience the natural spring water at around 20°C or soak in a heated carbonated spring.

The advantage is that you can choose the temperature that suits your mood and comfort level.

Try moving between the natural spring, the mildly warm bath, and the hot bath to experience a variety of sensations in a single visit.

The hot spring inn also dates back to 1902, giving it a long history. It is a good addition to a trip around Takaharu, an area known for its connections to Japanese mythology.

Address: 7535 Kamamuta, Takaharu, Nishimorokata District, Miyazaki
Hours: 10:00 AM–9:00 PM
Admission: Adults ¥650, children aged 3–12 ¥300
Closed: Wednesday

6. Kirishima Yunotani Sanso｜Kirishima, Kagoshima

Kirishima Yunotani Sanso is a unique hot spring where you can experience different mineral compositions and temperatures within a single bathing area.

Located in the mountains of the Kirishima hot spring area, the baths include sulfur spring water, carbonated spring water, and a mixed bath combining the two.

The large bath contains sulfur spring water with white mineral deposits floating in it. In contrast, the smaller bath contains carbonated spring water at around 30°C, creating a completely different experience in both temperature and mineral composition.

The mixed bath sits between the two at around 40°C. Moving between the three baths allows you to discover the combination of temperature and water quality that feels most comfortable to you.

It is also a good choice to combine with a visit to Kirishima Shrine.

Address: 4970 Takachiho, Makizono-cho, Kirishima, Kagoshima
Hours: 10:00 AM–3:00 PM (last admission 2:00 PM)
Admission: ¥500
Closed: Irregular holidays

7. Furuyu Onsen Eiryu Onsen｜Saga City, Saga

If you want to slow down and spend some time soaking in a quiet hot spring town, head to Furuyu Onsen in Fuji, Saga City.

Furuyu Onsen is a historic hot spring destination known for its relatively low temperatures and gentle feel on the skin.

At Eiryu Onsen, different spring sources are used in the bathing facilities, resulting in different temperatures from one bath to another.

The large bath, at around 36°C, is particularly well suited to a long, leisurely soak. Since you don't need to endure intense heat, it's easy to lose track of time.

Take a walk through the historic hot spring town before heading into the bath and enjoy a traditional Japanese onsen experience at a relaxed pace.

Address: 835 Furuyu, Fuji-cho, Saga City, Saga
Hours: 9:00 AM–8:30 PM
Admission: Half-day pass: adults ¥480, children ¥250; full-day pass: adults ¥650, children ¥420
Closed: Third Tuesday of the month (open every day in August)

8. Nuruyu Onsen｜Oguni, Kumamoto

If you want an easy and authentic way to experience local hot spring culture, head to Nuruyu Onsen in Oguni, Kumamoto.

The name “Nuruyu” literally means “lukewarm water,” and true to its name, the communal bath offers pleasantly mild water of around 38°C during the summer.

The bath uses naturally flowing spring water and costs just ¥200, making it an especially accessible way to experience a local onsen.

The bathing area has the simple, traditional character of a local communal bathhouse, offering a very different atmosphere from the larger facilities found in popular tourist destinations.

If you are visiting popular hot spring destinations such as Kurokawa Onsen, consider taking a slight detour to experience this more understated side of local onsen culture.

Please note that shampoo and body soap are not provided, so bring your own if needed.

Address: 2284 Kitasato, Oguni, Aso District, Kumamoto
Hours: 8:00 AM–9:00 PM
Admission: ¥200
Closed: Irregular holidays

9. HOTEL Seaside Shimabara Yuji-dokoro｜Shimabara, Nagasaki

Our final destination is a unique carbonated spring on the Shimabara Peninsula.

HOTEL Seaside Shimabara has several natural spring sources, including a high-concentration carbonated spring with a temperature of around 26°C.

Once you enter the bath, tiny bubbles cling to your skin. The combination of cool water and natural carbonation creates a bathing experience quite different from a typical hot spring.

The location is another advantage. The hotel is within walking distance of Shimabara Port, making it easy to combine with a trip using the ferry between Kumamoto and Shimabara.

Rather than making the hot spring the sole purpose of your trip, consider incorporating it into your wider Shimabara journey—as a relaxing stop at the beginning or end of your sightseeing itinerary.

Address: 1-38-1 Shinminato, Shimabara, Nagasaki
Hours: Main Building Yuji-dokoro 12:00 PM–11:00 PM (last admission 10:00 PM)
Closed: Irregular holidays

Make Nuru-yu Hot Springs Your Summer Travel Destination

Exploring Kyushu's nuru-yu hot springs reveals just how much variety can be found behind the simple idea of a “cooler hot spring.”

There are carbonated springs covered in tiny bubbles, silky-smooth mineral-rich water, baths where you can alternate between cold and warm spring water, mountain baths overlooking waterfalls, and traditional communal bathhouses.

When choosing a hot spring, looking beyond the water temperature to consider the mineral composition, scenery, and nearby attractions can open up entirely new ways to enjoy your trip.

During the warmer months, rather than avoiding hot spring travel altogether, why not make nuru-yu the focus of your journey?

On your next trip to Kyushu, enjoy a different kind of hot spring adventure—one centered around cool, refreshing, and wonderfully relaxing waters.

※Opening hours, admission fees, holidays, and other details may change. Please check the official website or other official sources of each facility for the latest information before visiting.