I Looked Into Taishoya

This blog usually focuses on campgrounds and day-trip hot springs, steadily researching places you can reach without a car, but this time, as a bit of a detour into 'hotel-cation' territory, I decided to turn my attention to a long-established ryokan.

What got me started was Taishoya, a name I kept coming across while researching Ureshino Onsen. It seems to be a ryokan with a long history since its founding, so I got curious and decided to look into it myself.

The Short Version

Founded in 1925 with 73 rooms, Taishoya's biggest highlight, in my impression, is its scale along with the setup that lets you enjoy four large baths total when combined with its sister property.
As for Rakuten Mobile signal, even the official tool couldn't provide a judgment, so if you're concerned about this, it might be reassuring to check in advance.

I've summarized the details below.

I Looked Into What Kind of Ryokan Taishoya Is

Taishoya is a ryokan located in the hot spring district of Ureshino City, Saga Prefecture, apparently founded in 1925 (Taisho 14). It seems to be a long-established property with nearly a century of history, and with 73 rooms, it's quite a large scale.
The building's design apparently involved the late Junzo Yoshimura, a member of the Japan Art Academy who was also involved in the basic design of the new Imperial Palace. This gave me the impression that it's not just a place to stay, but a ryokan worth seeing for its architecture as well.

Guest room buildings: apparently consists of three buildings — the Annex, the East Building, and the Main Building
Reservation method: apparently you can book by phone, but it also seems possible to apply via the web reservation form
Sample pricing: I found a listing for a plan including draft beer starting from 19,250 yen per person (based on two people sharing a room), but it seems the pricing for other plans can only be checked through the availability search form

I couldn't find specific check-in and check-out times clearly stated on the official website, so it seems best to confirm these when making a reservation.

Komorin

Seeing the number 73 rooms, I really got the sense that this is quite a large ryokan. It seems like the kind of place that would appeal to architecture enthusiasts too.

Checking Out the Famous Large Baths, Shiki no Yu and Taki no Yu

Taishoya apparently has two large baths, called Shiki no Yu and Taki no Yu. Judging from the names alone, they may be designed to evoke a sense of the seasons and an abundance of water.
What caught my interest further was a service called the 'Two Inns, Four Large Baths' tour, offered together with its sister property, Taishoya Shiibasanso. Using this service, you can apparently also use Shiibasanso's large open-air baths, Shiiba no Yu and Yama no Yu, meaning you can enjoy all four baths during a single overnight stay.
However, I couldn't find any mention on the official website of the specific transportation method or travel time to Shiibasanso, so anyone planning to stay should check on this individually.

I Also Looked Into Access

According to the official website, it's about a 5-minute drive from the Ureshino Interchange on the Nagasaki Expressway. This information isn't directly relevant to me since I don't drive, but it should be useful for those heading there by car.
For public transportation, since the Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen opened, it takes about an hour from Hakata Station and about 20 minutes from Nagasaki Station to reach the Ureshino Onsen area. From the Ureshino Onsen Bus Center, the ryokan appears to be located in the area that forms the center of the hot spring district, and the bus center itself seems to be within walking distance.
However, I couldn't find clear information on either the official website or the tourism association's site about whether there's a free shuttle bus from JR Ureshino Onsen Station to the ryokan, or its schedule. It seems safest to inquire about this when making a reservation.

Rakuten Mobile Signal Conditions

I tried to check this location using the official 'My Area Coverage Simulation' tool, but no result was displayed — it just showed a message saying something like 'currently undergoing temporary maintenance,' so I wasn't able to confirm the signal status.
Because of this, I'm marking the signal conditions as 'unknown' for this investigation. Since I couldn't say whether it was good or bad, I'm sharing it as-is.

Komorin

When there's no clear result, it's actually a bit unsettling, isn't it? If you're planning to stay, checking it yourself again right before your trip might give you the most peace of mind.

See Rakuten Mobile Details

Wrapping Up

To sum up, my impression of Taishoya was that of a ryokan with real depth as a hot spring inn — founded in 1925 with a history and scale reflected in its 73 rooms, while also offering four large baths to enjoy together with its sister property.
A well-known architect was apparently involved in the building's design, so it seems you can look forward to architectural highlights in addition to the hot springs. On the other hand, there's a fair amount that couldn't be confirmed through the official website alone, such as detailed pricing, check-in times, and whether shuttle buses are available, so it seems best to inquire before booking.
As for Rakuten Mobile signal conditions, even the official tool couldn't provide a judgment, so if this concerns you, please check for yourself before your stay.

Check Out Rakuten Mobile

This article includes a referral link for Rakuten Mobile's employee referral campaign. For details, please see our Disclaimer & Advertising Notice.