New Chikusuiso

404. New Chikusuiso, Ukiha, Fukuoka ★★ I went for a day visit for ¥700. Day visits are listed from 13:00 to 20:00. They stamp the Kyushu 88 Onsen stamp rally. The bath photos online matched what was there. While I was having an onsen rush on Google Maps, the place changed its name. On the way to the hotel, there were a lot of abandoned buildings around, and the whole area felt like a dying settlement. The hotel really did have a fresh sign, but the hotel itself had clearly seen better days, both outside and inside. I thought I might not get in at all, but they let me in for a day visit, stamped the Kyushu 88 Onsen rally, and even had posters up about the achievement. There were two guys in the onsen, and one of them clearly noticed me. He started talking to me in the changing room in pretty good English. We chatted, and it turned out he was the hotel owner and knew a lot about onsen. He showed respect that someone from Russia had made it all the way there. After I left the changing room and got to the exit, he met me at reception, asked me to write feedback about the onsen on a form in Russian with a pen, gave me a bottle of alcohol, and was very polite, continuing to show respect. Against that backdrop, it was nice that when I was leaving, a young Japanese couple was coming in for a day visit. The indoor bath had cloudy white-green water, and the temperature was 43. There was a worn old-style mural on the wall with Mt. Fuji and a frog mascot. Very Showa-era atmosphere. It was comfortable to breathe inside. The outdoor bath was stone-lined. There is no view while sitting, but if you stand up, you can see the forest and hills over the fence. The water was cloudy white-green, and the temperature was 35.5. Showa vibes, a super warm welcome, and a feeling of nostalgia for a place I had never even been to, how could I not recommend it? 12.01.2025