On the East side of Shimabara Peninsula, Shimabara Onsen faces the Ariake Ocean and where it’s pretty close to Kumamoto, it only takes 30 minutes on high-speed ferry. Near the out port, along the coast, there are total of about 15 hot spring spots within Japanese-style inn (Ryokan) and the private homes providing meals.
Shimabara Onsen is well known for using “Hot Spring Control” method. By using pump we draw natural hot water to 7 spots of drinkable hot springs and 2 spots of foot bath (open for 24 hours for free). It is hydrogen carbonate spring water. The temperature is right around 40℃, which is not too hot, and is good for your skin. Hot spring water is clear and has no color. It is a carbonated spring, so little bubbles of air gets on your skin when you get in the tub.
A must-see of Shimabara Onsen is gorgeous sunrise view on the horizon. It can be seen from most of hot spring spots here. We hope you will try morning bath and enjoy the view.
APPEAL POINTS
- Gourmet／Guzouni
- Guzouni is a local cuisine which includes 10 kinds of ingredients: yam, burdock, lotus root, Chinese cabbage, shiitake mushroom, chicken, boiled fish paste, conger eel, omelet, crown daisy and rice cake. The stock made with bonito, dried sea slug, chicken, flying fish and kelp brings out the flavor and warm taste.
- Gourmet／Kanzarashi
- Sweets made with rice flour dumpling. Small dumplings are cooled with natural water and covered with rich amount of special honey. Its refined sweetness with melting texture and creates smooth feeling in your throat. Please try simple, rich flavor of this local sweets.
- Sightseeing／Shimei-Sou Spring Garden
- This is a spring garden created from the privilege of rich spring of Shimabara. You can enjoy the beautiful garden with various trees such as Japanese red pines and maple trees. There are three big and small spring ponds where you can enjoy seeing beautiful carps (Japanese Koi fish) swimming.
RECOMMENDATION COMMENTS
Jenni
United Kingdom
Our impression of Shimabara was that it was very peaceful. In a way, it is similar to our city of Nagasaki, as both have long shopping arcades. We wandered along the streets with tiny canals running through them full of beautiful, inquisitive carp. We chanced upon a small house with a beautiful public garden, where the kind owner invited us in to drink green tea and look at the beautiful carp. Then we visited the Statue of Buddha Entering Nirvana in Kotoji Temple - at 8.6m long the statue is apparently the longest reclining Buddha in the country. Finally, we walked around the castle which looked very imposing with the sun setting behind it. Again, it fit in very well with the spooky Halloween feel of the weekend!