Unzen Onsen Fukudaya

Unzen Onsen town

Unzen Onsen (雲仙温泉) is a captivating hot spring town located near Mount Unzen on the Shimabara Peninsula. The town is famous for its Unzen Jigoku, or "Hells"—a dramatic landscape of hissing gas vents, steaming roads, bubbling white mud pools, and an omnipresent sulfur aroma.

The town sits directly above a magma chamber. Volcanic gases rise from the earth, mixing with groundwater and rainwater to feed the area's natural hot springs. The landscape is blanketed in thick, white fumarolic gases generated by high-temperature hydrogen sulfide, which chemically alters the surrounding rocks into a distinct white mud.

It is a truly impressive sight. In fact, we have only seen one other place like it in Japan: Noboribetsu Onsen in Hokkaido, which is also famous for its dramatic "Hells."

Aside from experiencing this natural phenomenon, we came to the area to climb Mount Unzen and stayed for two nights. The town itself is small and entirely walkable by foot. After dark, the streets become incredibly quiet and peaceful.

Staying at Unzen Fukudaya

While there aren't a vast number of accommodation choices in town, Fukudaya stood out to us. It is highly rated for its superb kitchen and excellent hot spring facilities. The hotel is located just a short walk down the main road. Because the town gets quiet and many places close after dark, we highly recommend booking a half-board package, which includes dinner and breakfast.

Onsen

The panoramic open-air bath and the indoor bath both feature an adjoining sauna. The usage is daily rotating between men and women.

Rooms

Fukudaya offers different room sizes to suit various budgets. We opted for a regular Japanese-style room, which was spacious and more than enough for our needs. It was bright, sunny, and overlooked a peaceful hill. As a lovely touch of hospitality, the staff left fresh panna cotta in our fridge every day.

Update: The website notes that all rooms have been thoroughly renovated, and it seems traditional Japanese tatami rooms are no longer an option. Make sure to check their site directly to see all current room types.

Dining

When it came to dining, meals were served downstairs in private dining rooms, and it was one of the best ryokan food we have ever had. The hotel's design is incredibly stylish, featuring beautiful, warm wood accents throughout.