Kumanokawa Onsen: Day-Use Hot Spring Baths & Prices

A little downstream from Furuyu, along the Kase River in the Fuji district of Saga City, sits Kumanokawa Onsen. It is a small, quiet spa village known for radioactive springs said to be among the most notable in Kyushu.

Highlights

The mild, soft water belongs to the same gentle-warm nuru-yu family as neighboring Furuyu and is ideal for long, unhurried soaks. The source emerges at around thirty-three to thirty-nine degrees Celsius, close to body temperature, so you rarely overheat. The radioactive spring offers a distinctive bathing experience, and while there is nothing flashy here, soaking to the murmur of the river brings a settled calm. Municipal public baths such as Chidori-no-Yu have long been cherished by locals.

Enjoying the Seasons

Spring blossoms and fresh greenery, summer cool, and autumn foliage all reflect the seasonal shifts unique to the Kase River valley. Early-summer fireflies and a soak while gazing at the coloring hills are especially fine. The surroundings are rich in nature, well suited to walks and riverside rests.

Access and Basic Information

The spa lies about twenty minutes by car north of central Saga City along the Kase River, just before Furuyu Onsen. Day-use bathing facilities let you drop in easily. A bath-hopping visit combined with Furuyu is highly recommended.

A Quick Tip

Because it is gentle warm water, you rarely overheat and can enjoy a long soak. It is perfect for those seeking quiet, so visit when you want to leave the bustle behind and relax.

Practical Travel Notes

• The water is a radioactive spring, with a source temperature of about thirty-three to thirty-nine degrees Celsius; close to body temperature, it is a mild bath in which you rarely overheat.
• Municipal public baths such as Chidori-no-Yu allow easy day-use drop-ins.
• By public transport, take a Showa Bus from the terminal in front of JR Saga Station toward the Fuji branch office, reaching the Kumanokawa Onsen area in about forty minutes.
• It sits just downstream of Furuyu Onsen, making it well suited to a combined bath-hopping visit.
• Fees, hours, and closing days vary by facility, so please check the latest details before a day-use visit.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Spring quality: A simple weakly radioactive spring containing sodium carbonate, magnesium and emanation (radon), among other components. Its radon content is said to be among the highest in Kyushu, and the water is traditionally held to be good for rheumatism and neuralgia. Chidori no Yu posts its spring quality as a simple weakly radioactive spring (hypotonic, alkaline hot spring), colorless and transparent, with no taste or smell, and lists skin conditions, joint pain, gout, high blood pressure and diabetes among its benefits
• Source temperature: 24.5 to 38.7 degrees across the hot spring village as a whole. The water is lukewarm, close to body temperature
• How the water is used: Motoyu Kumanokawa Bathhouse has an abundant flow of free-flowing spring water straight from the source. You can move between three bathtubs kept at different temperatures
• Day bathing at Motoyu Kumanokawa Bathhouse: 9:00-20:30, closed every Tuesday and Friday. Prices depend on the time of day: for adults, 700 yen from 9:00, 500 yen from 15:00, and 300 yen from 17:00. For children the same time bands cost 300 yen, 200 yen and 100 yen
• Amenities at Motoyu: Soap, shampoo, conditioner and hairdryers are provided. Towels are sold for 200 yen and bath towels are rented for 200 yen. You may bring in your own food
• Day bathing at Chidori no Yu: 10:00-21:00, closed on the third Thursday of the month (the following day when it falls on a public holiday). 600 yen for high school students and above, 350 yen for children aged 6 through junior high school age. There is a discount in the evening from 17:00
• Open-air bath: Chidori no Yu has a large bathing area with an open-air bath looking out to the mountains
• Private family baths: The barrier-free family bath at Chidori no Yu costs 1,500 yen for 55 minutes (the admission fee is charged separately)
• Rest space: Chidori no Yu has a tatami-matted rest room, and meals and massages are also available
• Taking the hot spring water home: 100 yen for 20 liters at the hot spring water stand at Chidori no Yu
• Sleeping in your car and barbecues: Chidori no Yu also has a Yu YOU Park site for campervans and overnight stays in your car, plus barbecue facilities
• Parking: Chidori no Yu has free parking
• Access (by car): 15 to 20 minutes from Saga-Yamato Interchange on the Nagasaki Expressway
• Access (by bus): About 30 to 35 minutes on a Showa Bus service on the Furuyu line from the bus center at JR Saga Station, getting off at Kumanokawa Onsen-mae
• Money-saving ticket: Showa Bus offers the Nuruyu Kutsurogi Kippu for 1,800 yen (1,500 yen worth of bus travel plus a 300 yen hot spring voucher). It is sold at Saga Station Bus Center, the Fuji-machi Tourist Information Office, and SAGAMADO (in front of Saga Station)
• How long to allow: Lukewarm water is best enjoyed with a long, unhurried soak. Allow 1 to 2 hours for bathing alone, or half a day if you plan to spend time in the rest area
• Choosing your time of day: At Motoyu the price steps down at 15:00 and again at 17:00. Evening onward is the cheapest, while weekday daytimes suit a quiet, long soak
• Addresses: Motoyu Kumanokawa Bathhouse is at 118 Oaza Kamikumagawa, Fuji-machi, Saga City; Chidori no Yu is at 204-8 Kamikumagawa, Fuji-machi, Saga City

Sources of Information

The origin of the hot spring (Konin 12, and Kukai), the Xu Fu legend of Furuyu Onsen and its rediscovery in Kansei 3, and the spring quality and source temperature (24.5 to 38.7 degrees) were confirmed on the Furuyu and Kumanokawa Onsen introduction pages of the Saga Prefecture official tourism site \"Asobo Saga\". The opening hours, closing days, time-band prices, free-flowing spring water, amenities and towel prices at Motoyu Kumanokawa Bathhouse, and the opening hours, closing days, prices, private bath fee and spring quality notice at Chidori no Yu, come from the individual facility pages of \"Furukuma\", the official site of the Furuyu and Kumanokawa hot spring village. The open-air bath, family bath, rest room, hot spring water stand, Yu YOU Park and parking at Chidori no Yu come from the facility page on \"Asobo Saga\", and the bus routes and the details and sales points of the Nuruyu Kutsurogi Kippu were confirmed on the Showa Bus official website. Prices, opening hours and closing days are subject to change, so please check the official information before you set out.