Lamune Onsen — Attraction in Taketa

One of the most carbonated onsen in the whole of Japan! Entrance ¥500 (there is also private for around ¥2000), pay at the vending machine and give the ticket to the reception, they will also give you a short explanation of the place (in Japanese). You can also get the Kyushu onsen stamp. Operating hours 10:00-22:00. You need to bring your own shampoos and towel, there is parking. After the reception, the next open area has the free lockers (¥100 coin refundable). This area before you enter the bath is open and you could easily spend a few minutes. It's green with vegetation and you can admire the lovely architecture of the place (architect Terunobu Fujimori). There is an interesting sculpture of a human figure with a dog head and there is also a small spring where you can actually drink the carbonated onsen water! Tastes pretty good! Here are the private baths and the toilets. Next you can enter the public baths. Changing room is a bit small and then you enter the baths through a quite small door, that small that you actually have to bend down to go through. Take note you CAN"T use any soap or shampoos anywhere in the onsen area apart of the showers which are located at the outdoor area next to the sauna so this is the place you should go first to wash yourself clean. The first area you encounter upon entering is the indoor bath, quite unique, it has three tubs as if made of clay with the water flowing from each tub to another. The water temperature here is warm, the leaflet says 41c but it felt like around 38c. Although this is hot water it is still carbonated at 990 ppm. Then you go out where there is the outdoor full carbonated bath at 1380 ppm! This one is lukewarm at 32c. It has a tent above it in case of rain. Entering the water, after a few seconds you feel and see all the bubbles accumulating on your skin, it is a really interesting feeling. If you pass your fingers through the bubbles on your body you can draw a bubble drawing! People from all over Japan come to this place for the unique water, even though they probably meet for the 1st time they all talk like friends, when I bathed there were people from Fukuoka, Osaka, Kumamoto etc, everybody extremely friendly. If you on the top right corner where is the source of the hot spring the carbon feeling is even more intense (and the temperature of the water just a bit warmer). Next to the carbonated outdoor bath is the sauna room. Medium sized but nice and tidy, its the place to be to get really warm and sweaty. On the opposite is a small corridor with 4 showers to wash off the sweat and this is the place where you should come upon entering to wash yourself clean. If you have with you a small set with shampoos and towel (probably in a small bucket or bag), entering the sauna you could leave it on the spot of one of the showers, at the outdoor bath you could just leave it at the space behind it and at the indoor bath there is space to place it. You could easily spend quite a lot of time here going from one place to another enjoying. The facilities were excellent and clean, the service was very friendly and accommodating. Finishing, at the reception there are heaters (or aircon I guess for the Summer), a small selection of books, information about the place, tea, coffee, souvenirs and they are also selling their carbonated spring water! Totally recommended! Gensen kakenagashi. PS. Just before you enter the premises check out the cute...

Such a unique experience, the onsen would be perfect for summer as it is only about 32°C and not the hot ones. (There are, however, hot ones provided too, without the ramune bubbles) The place is very cozy and homey, nice wood vibes and mellow light. The owner has a cat 🐈 too~

The onsen was very unique, unlike any other we've experienced. The bubbles really feel like we're sitting in ramune🥤~

Instructions are mostly in Japanese, and staff doesn't really speak English, but friendly nonetheless.

Try dipping your face (just your face and not hair and etc.) into the water while in the ramune onsen! Despite the cool temperature, you will feel warm in your eye socket and upper lip area! (Apparently, that is due to your blood running or something!)

We stayed longer than expected! 😆...

This onsen is part of Naga Yu which is known for its tepid waters. Some people prefer this and contrasts with Beppu which is generally ridiculously hot.

The building is kinda funny and cute on the outside. On the inside it has a cave like encrusted vibe to it. I think a lot of this has to do with deposits from the water maybe.

The outside bath is the main one and it's tepid and carbonated. It's quite nice though cos you can stay in it for ages and ages.

The showers are pretty basic and could do with renovation but they get the job done. Unusually they only have standing showers.

The sauna felt like a bit of an afterthought, it didn't even have tiered seating and the lighting was a single fluorescent bulb in the corner which doesn't exactly put you in a chill...