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Ashihara no Yu in Ueki, Kumamoto: A Hidden Hot Spring Gem with Beauty-Boosting Waters & Quality Family Baths You’ll Want to Visit Again!

Outing Spots

2023.06.24

πŸ“Œ What you’ll learn in this article
A Saru-Kuma writer personally visits and reports on “Ashihara no Yu” in Ueki-machi, Kita Ward, Kumamoto City. Price guide: from 1,500 yen. We also cover family-friendly tips, access, and opening hours.

Introducing Ashihara no Yu

Hello, this is Miruku from [Saru-Kuma], whose hair just won’t behave during the rainy season!

Today I’m introducing a wonderful spot located in Ueki-machi, Kita Ward, Kumamoto City:
[Ashihara no Yu].

Hearing it was a free-flowing natural hot spring famous for its skin-beautifying waters, I just had to go β€” and rushed over the very same day! πŸ₯Ή

Apparently, this single hot spring facility sits all by itself in the middle of farmland, a little distance from Ueki’s main hot spring district, giving it a wonderful secret onsen atmosphere 🀀

When I arrived, sure enough, Ashihara no Yu was tucked away in a quiet residential area surrounded by rice paddies 😳

You can spot the entrance easily thanks to a brightly lit sign 😌

Just follow the arrow signs to head in the right direction.

Continue along the road that leads to the onsen β™¨οΈπŸƒβ€β™‚οΈ

The road is a bit narrow, so please drive carefully 😊

I couldn’t contain my excitement, wondering if a hot spring really existed in this hidden spot 😊

Once through, I found the spacious parking lot of Ashihara no Yu ✨

It’s nice and big, so there’s plenty of room to park 😌

And here’s the building you’ve been waiting for β€” ‘Ashihara no Yu’ ✨

I assumed it was only family baths, but to my surprise, there’s also a public bathhouse!

Ashihara no Yu is also frequented by locals and is well-loved by the community ✨

Here is the reception desk 😊

The family baths have no limit on the number of people, with 6 rooms in total 🌸

Every room is the same flat rate: 1,500 yen for 50 minutes (tax included). *Cash only

You can also extend your stay for 300 yen per additional 10 minutes ✨

Public bathhouse fees are as follows:

  • Adults: 400 yen
  • Elementary school students: 150 yen
  • Under 6 years old: 50 yen
  • Coupon book (12 tickets): 4,000 yen

*Cash only

Wow, that’s such a great price!! ✨

At these prices, you must be wondering what the rooms look like… πŸ₯Ί

Heading through the door to the right of reception, we made our way to the family bath area πŸƒβ€β™€οΈΒ³β‚ƒ

The rooms are right there once you open the door, so there’s no long walk needed ✨

Let’s head into the family bath β€” let’s go! πŸ₯°

Top Highlights of Ashihara no Yu

Today I was assigned Room 4, called Hinoki-Iwa (Cypress & Rock) 😊

Just for reference: I visited around 8pm on a weekday, and the wait time was only about 10 minutes!

Heart pounding with excitement, I opened the door to the room… 😍

Wow, it’s gorgeous… 😍✨✨✨

This room for just 1,500 yen?! It far exceeded my expectations!

But what about the bath itself…?!

It was absolutely stunning!!

The whole family couldn’t stop applauding πŸ‘

The Hinoki-Iwa Room 4 features an indoor cypress wood tub and an outdoor rock-built bath ✨

Top-notch quality and amazing value β€” simply the best 😍

I can already feel myself coming back for another visit!

Shampoo and body soap are provided!

The changing room comes with a sofa, shelves, 4 baskets for clothes, a separate vanity sink, and a hair dryer 😊

And a huge bonus β€” there’s a private toilet right inside the room! 😭✨

A phone rings 5 minutes before your time is up, so you don’t have to worry about losing track of time πŸ₯Ί

Surrounded by the soothing aroma of cypress wood, as you sink into the water, tiny bubbles cling to your skin, a sign of the spring’s freshness πŸ€

The water is clear with a slightly silky texture 😊

It runs a bit on the warmer side, but my kids were able to soak comfortably, so no worries there ☺️

It feels so good, you can’t help but linger 🀣

After getting out, my skin felt incredibly smooth and silky! ✨

All the day’s fatigue just melted away πŸ€*γ‚œ

Ashihara no Yu’s family baths come in 6 different rooms, each with a unique theme β€” I’d love to come back and try them all! πŸ˜Šβ™‘

You’ll also receive a stamp card, so be sure to start collecting stamps ✨

Be sure to visit [Ashihara no Yu] for yourself! ✨

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Frequently Asked Questions

What’s a recommended family-friendly spot in Ueki-machi, Kita Ward, Kumamoto City?

“Ashihara no Yu” is a popular spot in Ueki-machi, Kita Ward, Kumamoto City that’s easy to enjoy with kids. See this article for full details.

What are Ashihara no Yu’s hours and closing days?

The latest hours and closing days may change. Please confirm via the official website or by phone before visiting.

*Information accurate as of the time of reporting. Prices and hours may change. Please confirm before visiting.

Article Writer

Sarukuma Editorial is a small team of locals based in Kumamoto, Japan, sharing the hidden gems, hometown flavors, and seasonal experiences that make our region special. We write the kind of guide we wish we had when showing friends around β€” honest, practical, and made by people who actually live here.

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