Public bathhouse · Open
Takeo Onsen Motoyu
- Day-use bathing
- Yes
- Fee
- ¥500checked 2026-10-09
- Hours
- 6:30–23:45checked 2026-10-09
Photo information
Save to passport
Official classification
Spring type (therapeutic classes)
Official spring-type name (as recorded)Weakly alkaline simple (low-mineral) hot spring
- Source temperature
- 45–51°C
- pH
- Unconfirmed
- Flow rate
- Unconfirmed
- Radon
- Unconfirmed
Appearance & feel
Water colour · Feel
ClearSilky / slippery
Colour and feel are listed only where a source states them. They vary by day and by bath.
What makes it special
Walk through a vermilion gate by Tatsuno Kingo, architect of Tokyo Station, and you reach Motoyu, a public bathhouse built in 1876, fifteen minutes on foot from a shinkansen station.
Why?
The Takeo City Tourist Association says the gate was designed by Tatsuno Kingo, completed in 1915 and designated an Important Cultural Property in 2005, and that Motoyu (1876) is the oldest bathhouse building in Japan still in use. The gate is about 15 minutes' walk from Takeo-Onsen Station's north exit.[1][2]
Facilities in this area
Facilities come from the register (Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, official sites). Those marked "natural spring unconfirmed" are listed on the basis of their name only.
Public bathhouse · Open
Takeo Onsen Saginoyu
- Day-use bathing
- Yes
- Fee
- ¥740checked 2026-10-09
- Hours
- 6:30–23:45checked 2026-10-09
Public bathhouse · Open
Tonosama-yu (private bath)
- Day-use bathing
- Yes
- Fee
- ¥4,300checked 2026-10-09
- Hours
- 10:00–23:00checked 2026-10-09
Getting there
Reachable by public transport
About 15 minutes' walk from the north exit of Takeo-Onsen Station (JR Sasebo Line and Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen) to the Romon gate.
- Getting there
- Takeo-Onsen Station · 15
- Checked
- 2026-10-09
About the water
A clear, soft-feeling, weakly alkaline simple spring. The tourism association says its balanced minerals hold heat well and sit gently on the skin, which is why it has long been called a 'beauty bath'.
Indications (as posted on the analysis)
Fatigue, neuralgia, muscle and joint pain, frozen shoulder, joint stiffness, bruises, sprains, general health (as listed by the Takeo City Tourist Association)
Indications are an official statement based on the water analysis, not a guarantee of treatment. They are kept separate from opinions.
| Source | Source temperature | pH | Radon | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Takeo Onsen | Unconfirmed | Unconfirmed | Unconfirmed | no check date |
Three things not to miss
Photo information
The Romon gate
Entrance to the baths, about 15 minutes' walk from Takeo-Onsen Station (north exit) A vermilion Tenpyo-style gate, said to evoke the Dragon Palace of folklore, built without a single nail. Designed by Tatsuno Kingo and finished on 12 April 1915, it became a national Important Cultural Property in 2005 and was restored to its original colour in 2013. Carvings of four zodiac animals (rat, rabbit, horse, rooster) mark the corners of the upper ceiling.
Together with the eight zodiac reliefs in Tokyo Station's domes they complete the twelve signs, a pairing that caused a stir. Guided tours of the upper floor run 9:00–10:00 daily except Tuesdays (adults ¥500, including a Motoyu bath ticket).[2][3]
Photo information
Motoyu
Behind the gate Built in 1876, a retro bathhouse with a high ceiling and wide tubs. Adults ¥500, 6:30–23:45 (last entry 23:00). Body soap and 2-in-1 shampoo provided.
Said to be the oldest bathhouse building in Japan still in use, it has been in service for more than 140 years.[1]
Tonosama-yu, the lord's bath (private)
In the bathhouse complex behind the gate An all-marble bath built in the mid-Edo period for the Takeo Nabeshima lords, rented by the hour (¥4,300 at weekends and holidays, ¥3,800 weekdays, up to five adults; no bookings, first come first served).
Philipp Franz von Siebold described bathing in this very tub in the account of his journey to Edo.[4]
The story
A 1,300-year-old spring and a lord's bath
Takeo is said to have 1,300 years of bathing history. In the mid-Edo period the Takeo Nabeshima lords built Tonosama-yu, an all-marble private bath, and Siebold, travelling from Nagasaki to Edo, recorded bathing in it.[5][4]
Tatsuno Kingo's gate and hall
Tatsuno Kingo, architect of Tokyo Station and the Bank of Japan head office, designed Takeo's gate (1915) and its Shinkan hall (1914), both now Important Cultural Properties. The nail-free gate's four zodiac carvings complete the set with the eight in Tokyo Station's domes. The city notes that two more gates were once planned.[2][3]
A public bath you can walk to from the train
The gate is about 15 minutes' walk from Takeo-Onsen Station. Behind it are Motoyu (¥500), Saginoyu with an open-air bath and sauna, and the private Tonosama-yu and family bath, open from 6:30 until late. A soak between trains is entirely possible.[1][2][6][4]
Going solo
Easy for solo travellersUnconfirmed
Weekend / peak restrictionsUnconfirmed
Where to eat dinnerUnconfirmed
Private bathYes
checked 2026-10-09
Through the year
Recommended months
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Months open
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
"Recommended" and "open" are recorded separately. Check the season for seasonal springs.
Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec — Guided zodiac tours of the gate run 9:00–10:00 daily except Tuesdays (extended to 31 March 2027)
Food, culture & experiences
Takeo Onsen Shinkan
Also by Tatsuno Kingo, completed in 1914 and an Important Cultural Property; once baths downstairs and a rest hall upstairs[3]
Just inside the gateTakeo pottery kilns
Kiln visits promoted by the tourism association, which also publishes autumn kiln-opening events[8]
Editors' guide
Join the 9:00 gate tour and you get a Motoyu bath ticket thrown in. Bathe in the Meiji-era hall, admire the Shinkan from outside, and walk back to the station: a neat half day.
The "editors' guide" above is written by the editors from sources; it is not a visitor's opinion.
Photo gallery
Visitor reviews
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Overview
武雄温泉（たけおおんせん）は、佐賀県武雄市（旧国肥前国）にある温泉街である。
This overview is based on the lead section of the Japanese Wikipedia article "武雄温泉" (CC BY-SA 4.0). View original page
Onsen areas nearby
Photo information
Sari Onsen
Sari Onsen
15.9 km
Hasami Onsen
Hiraya Onsen
Hiraya Onsen
21.6 km
Photo information
Irohajima Onsen
Irohajima Onsen
27.4 km
Unconfirmed & notes
- Source temperature and pH, water treatment and solo stays are unconfirmed
- Closing days for Motoyu and Saginoyu were not listed
Sources
- 武雄温泉 元湯(武雄市観光協会)一般財団法人 武雄市観光協会 · 2026-10-09
- 武雄温泉楼門(武雄市観光協会)一般財団法人 武雄市観光協会 · 2026-10-09
- 時を越えて作り手の思いを感じる 武雄温泉楼門武雄市 · 2026-10-09
- 殿様湯(武雄市観光協会)一般財団法人 武雄市観光協会 · 2026-10-09
- 温泉(武雄市観光協会)一般財団法人 武雄市観光協会 · 2026-10-09
- 武雄温泉 鷺乃湯(武雄市観光協会)一般財団法人 武雄市観光協会 · 2026-10-09
- 家族湯(武雄市観光協会)一般財団法人 武雄市観光協会 · 2026-10-09
- 武雄市観光協会 公式サイト一般財団法人 武雄市観光協会 · 2026-10-09
Register sources
- 武雄温泉 - Wikipedia(日本語版)Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · 2026-10-09
- Wikidata Q11546632Wikidata · CC0 · 2026-10-09
Data status
Name & locationPublishedCoordinatesPublishedSpring typePublishedPhotosPublishedFacilitiesPublishedVisiting info (dated)PublishedEditorial articlePublished
Updated 2026-10-09
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