Tsuetate onsen hot spring, Kumamoto, Japan

There is the border between Kumamoto and Oita prefecture 

inside Hizenya hotel.

 

If you want to know more information about Momiji bridge [Japanese: もみじ橋] where Carp-Ema is hanging, footbath [Japanese: 足湯], steamed egg [Japanese: 蒸したまご], or Koinobori festival, please read Tuetate-onsen Koinobori festival article too.

Episode of Hizenya hotel & Tsuetate-onsen hot spring

One of our family invited us there because Hizenya Hotel was famous and historical hot spring in Kumamoto. Hot spring was good. Foods were good. Location was good. Especially we liked the view from the window in the restaurant hall for the breakfast.

Decoration inside the hotel was very Japanese. We could enjoy Japanese atomosphere.

Surprisingly, we found the border inside the hotel ! We passed the border between Kumamoto and Oita many times. :-))

We walked around the Tsuetate-onsen hot spring area. There were narrow back streets called "Sedoya" [Japanese: 背戸屋]. We felt like we were back in old Japan. It was fun to discover the small shops. People were very kind. It was nice time-trip walk.

Tomo&Chouchou's advice for Tsuetate-onsen hot spring

Tsuetate-onsen hot spring is a good place if you want to enjoy old Japan atmosphere. Especially, if you walk narrow back street called Sedoya, you feel you are in the showa period of Japan.



Information

Tsuetate-onsen hot spring [Japanese: 杖立温泉]
Place-name "Tsuetate" literally means; Tsue [杖]: a stick, Tate [立]: to place or to leave. It's said that Tsuetate was named according to the legend.  People with their sticks came for hot spring in this town. This hot spring cured them, then they left their sticks when they go back. So Tsuetate-onsen hot spring is very effective.
Location: Oguni-machi, Aso, Kumamoto, Japan

Hizenya hotel [ひぜんや] is famous in Tsuetate-onsen area.
Hizenya hotel is located on the border of Kumamoto and Oita prefecture. This hotel was sung by Yosui Inoue [Japanese: 井上陽水] as "Riverside hotel".
Address: 4223 Shimojyo, Oguni-machi, Aso-gun, Kumamoto prefecture 869-2503 [〒869-2503 熊本県阿蘇郡小国町下城4223]

Tsuetate-onsen Koinobori festival, Kumamoto, Japan

Children's Day: May 5 is to celebrate the happiness of children with Koinobori.
So Koinobori Festival is held all over Japan in May.

Tsuetate onsen is the origin of Koinobori festival.

Around 3500 carp steamers/carp-shaped wind socks [=Koinobori]

 were flying above the river 

during Tuetate-onsen Koinobori festival.
 

footbath [Japanese: 足湯]

steamed egg [Japanese: Mushi-tamago, 蒸したまご].

Lots of carp-shaped Emas are hanging on Momiji bridge.
※Ema (=small wooden plaques written people's wish)

Episode of Tsuetate-onsen hot spring Koinobori festival

Tomo&Chouchou went to Tsuetate hot spring (=Tsuetate onsen) located in Oguni-machi, Aso-gun, Kumamoto, Japan. We went to Tsuetate-onsen in spring, so we could see lots of Koinobori [=carp steamers/carp-shaped wind socks] were swimming above the Tsuetate river in the sky. Around 3500 carp steamers/carp-shaped wind socks [=Koinobori] were flying above the river during Tuetate-onsen Koinobori festival. It was so beautiful. 

Around Koinobori area, we could have a footbath [Japanese: 足湯] for free. There was also a one day visit spa around. So we quickly enjoyed footbath then we entered visit spa for one hour. It was very refreshing!
We can also buy a steamed egg [Japanese: Mushi-tamago, 蒸したまご] around there.

Momiji-bashi [=Maple bridge] arches over the lower Tsuetate river. Lots of Emas shaped as a carp are hanging on Momiji bridge [Japanese: もみじ橋] because carp-shaped ema is reputed to make your love or wish come true. For that, we need to write our wish on carp-Ema and hang it on Maple bridge. It may be because both "carp [鯉]" and "love [恋]" are called "koi" in Japanese. When we realized two meaning of koi, it was more interesting. We could fully enjoy Tsuetate-onsen hot spring! 

Tomo&Chouchou's advices for Tsuetate-onsen Koinobori Festival

1)Tsuetate onsen is the origin of Koinobori festival. We highly recommend to go to Tsuetate-onsen in Spring. Tsuetate-onsen Koinobori Festival can be enjoye by kids, family, couple and friends. 

2)We can hang carp-shaped ema on Momiji bridge. We can also use carp-shaped Ema as a postcard. We need to paste a stamp on ema and put it into the post. If we go to the post office in Tsuetate, they will stamp postmark of Koinobori [=carp steamer] on it! Why not sending it to your friends, family or yourself?


information
Tsuetate-onsen hot spring "Koinobori festival" 杖立温泉 鯉のぼり祭り
from April 1 to May 6