Welcome to Tamana Onsen Tsukasa-no-Yu

Hello there!
I’m Igaguri, writer for Sarukuma.

Today I’m taking you to Ritsuganji, Tamana City, Kumamoto Prefecture, to a wonderful little hot spring called “Tamana Onsen Tsukasa-no-Yu.”

Apologies for the blurry shot — it was raining and I was juggling an umbrella! 🙇

You’ll find it right across the street from Tsukasa Bowl Tamana ♪

Bowling followed by a hot spring soak — the perfect combo!

Here’s the main entrance.
The elevator is on your left.

What grand doors!
Is it just me, or do they give off a theme-park kind of excitement before you’ve even stepped inside? lol

Just inside, a beautiful cherry blossom display greets you ☺
A sweet reminder that spring is on its way…

Of course, no Japanese hot spring is complete without traditional shoe lockers!

Toddlers obsessed with numbers will love poking around here.
Kids also have a strange fascination with keys… anyone else’s? Mine seem to vanish into thin air every time. (laughs)

From front to back, you’ll see the public bath ticket machine, restrooms, the elevator, the front desk, and the entrance to the public baths. To the right (across from the front desk) you’ll find stairs leading up to the second floor.

The family bath reception is on the second floor, so skip the front desk and head upstairs. Just be careful — the stairs can be slippery in socks!

One important note for visitors: phone reservations are not accepted on weekends and holidays. You can, however, book in person once you arrive.

On my Sunday visit (around 4 p.m.), there was a 30-minute wait — perfect time to wander down to the first-floor café and game corner.

You’ll pass the souvenir corner first (the entrance and shoe lockers are on the right).

As you’d expect from a Japanese bathhouse — the drink selection is fantastic!

And on the opposite side…

Wow!!

An incredible Hina Matsuri (Doll Festival) tiered display!

You don’t see something this elaborate every day — definitely a treat for international visitors curious about Japanese seasonal traditions.
(The souvenir and drink corner is to the left.)

And here we are at the café corner ♪ (about 2–3 minutes from the family bath reception on the 2nd floor).

There’s also a game arcade where kids can play.

Naturally, I went straight for the fries. Why are kids so universally into french fries?
(My own kid actually doesn’t like ice cream — go figure!)
These were lovely chunky wedge-cut fries.

It took about 10 minutes to prepare, so if you’re in a rush, plan accordingly. And don’t be surprised if the kids end up gravitating toward the game corner while they wait!

Toward the back you’ll find a tatami-mat lounge area — a free rest space — and the east-side entrance.

Heads up: if you come in through the east entrance and head upstairs, you’ll end up in the banquet hall, not the family bath area.

For the family bath, use the main entrance and take the stairs near the public bath ticket machines and front desk. (The two upper floors aren’t connected to each other.)

Why the Family Baths at Tsukasa-no-Yu Are a Must

Today we got Room 5, which has its own outdoor bath (rotenburo)! (^^♪

Here’s the entrance.

Even the hallways sparkle!
A squeaky-clean onsen earns big points in my book ☆

(((o(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)o)))~ ♪♪

Here’s the indoor bath ♪

The indoor bath has adjustable temperature controls.

To keep the kids from overheating, my golden rule is to add plenty of cold water as soon as we arrive.

The outdoor bath (rotenburo) doesn’t have temperature adjustment, so we kept that one strictly for the grown-ups ♪

The complimentary toy lineup. You can borrow these at the front desk.

Just remember to return them when you’re done!

The changing room as seen from the bath side.
Plenty of room to move around ♪

The hair dryer cord stretches across the entire changing room — perfect for chasing wriggly kids around to dry their hair! (laughs)

Mellow jazz played gently in the background — a lovely surprise.

Air conditioning and fans are also fully equipped, so you’ll be comfortable year-round.

I hope the photos do it justice — but seriously, the standout feature of Tsukasa-no-Yu’s family baths is just how spotless everything is.
Room 5 with the outdoor bath cost 2,100 yen for 60 minutes (member price).

Honestly, that’s a steal!

And on weekdays, it’s half off! \(◎o◎)/!

Tamana Onsen Tsukasa-no-Yu — Visitor Info

Frequently Asked Questions

※Information is current as of the time of the visit. Prices and hours are subject to change. Please confirm before your visit.