Bansyoukaku Shikishima — Hotel in Ureshino

Our stay at the Bansyoukaku Sikisima Onsen in Ureshino Japan was absolutely fantastic. Ureshino is a 2-3 hour drive from Fukuoka which is the home base during our current trip to Japan and the scenery on the way to the resort was gorgeous.||||We were greeted at the onsen by the Manager who personally welcomed and registered us. While we were checking in he informed us that we had been given a complimentary room upgrade which was an unexpected surprise and that our car would be valet parked and brought back to the entrance the following morning before our departure. We were then taken to our room by one of the chambermaids who got us settled. She served us tea and a fantastic pudding as we got settled in.||||The rooms were Japanese style tatami rooms and quite spacious. There was a large flat screen TV and a couch to lounge on. The view looked out over the tree lined street behind the onsen. The room was very clean and well kept with a well stocked fridge and a large bathroom with separate Japanese style bathing room.||||The Onsen has a total of 10 different Japanese ofuros (baths). 8 of them are private ofuros which can be booked through the front desk. You can try them all one by one. Just ask for the key for each bath at the Front desk. Each bath has a 30 minute time limit to allow all the guests to try them out. There are also 2 public ofuros which can be used any time. One thing to note is that the private ofuros may not be part of your package when you stay at this onsen so make sure to ask when booking so you don't have to pay extra.||||We had the chef's omakase dinner served in our room by a kimono clad waitress. It was fantastic and very filling. It started with a series of small appetizers, followed by sashimi, melt in your mouth Saga beef, pork shabu shabu, and more. I'm afraid there was a lot of really good beer with dinner so the menu details are a little hazy for me towards the end :-)||||After a night of bathing and eating it was off to bed. Futons were brought out by the chamber maid and we crashed for the night. For those not used to the Japanese futon it's not the most comfortable way of sleeping since you're essentially sleeping on a thin mat separating you from the floor. I'm not sure if they have western style beds in any of their rooms but it might be worth asking for.||||Breakfast the next morning was served in the restaurant downstairs and was also fantastic. Breakfast consisted of grilled fish, rice, a soft boiled onsen style egg, nori, onsen style boiled tofu, miso soup, and various types of pickles. It left you stuffed and ready to face the day.||||In addition to the baths and food the hotel has a nice little gift shop and a room where you can do Karaoke. The owner of the hotel is also an avid collector of Japanese film memorabilia from the 60s and 70s so you'll see cool stuff all over the hotel.||||Definitely try this onsen if you're planning a visit to Fukuoka, Nagasaki or the area near Ureshino. This onsen is a little pricey but well worth it. Make sure you book on-line through their web site to get the best deal. We paid about $200-$225 each for one nights stay, meals and access to all the ofuros which is...

Ureshino is a small onsen town located about 1 hour drive from Fukuoka. I parked my car at the car parking next to the hotel and the hotel staff rushed out to help carry my 2 pieces of luggage. And they are not light luggage. Once seated inside the lobby seating, the staff would formally welcome the guests with sweets and tea. It is a classic onsen hotel with new looks and feel.||My classic room is a 15 tatami sized room which is very spacious. Inside the room there was a local specialty, a milk pudding waiting to be enjoyed. Outside the window there was so much greenery. The mini bar area has almost everything you need, dripping coffee, tea, hot water, ice water, and bottled water. The hotel provides guests with 45 minutes of complimentary use of a private onsen. And there are a few good private onsens to choose from.||The main onsen is ordinary, more a modern style with tiles and lights, not particularly impressive. On the one side of the lobby, the hotel store mimics the Meiji era stores with lots of nostalgic merchandise. Dinner and breakfast were arranged in the restaurant, with each group of guests seated in a partitioned room. The waitress serving us spoke a little English and was helpful. Every item in the dinner was fantastic. The tofu pot in the breakfast was also exceptionally good. When we depart the hotel staff would pull your car to the hotel front door.||Overall the service and food quality of the hotel...

Ureshino is a small onsen town located about 1 hour drive from Fukuoka. I parked my car at the car parking next to the hotel and the hotel staff rushed out to help carry my 2 pieces of luggage. And they are not light luggage. Once seated inside the lobby seating, the staff would formally welcome the guests with sweets and tea. It is a classic onsen hotel with new looks and feel.||My classic room is a 15 tatami sized room which is very spacious. Inside the room there was a local specialty, a milk pudding waiting to be enjoyed. Outside the window there was so much greenery. The mini bar area has almost everything you need, dripping coffee, tea, hot water, ice water, and bottled water. The hotel provides guests with 45 minutes of complimentary use of a private onsen. And there are a few good private onsens to choose from.||The main onsen is ordinary, more a modern style with tiles and lights, not particularly impressive. On the one side of the lobby, the hotel store mimics the Meiji era stores with lots of nostalgic merchandise. Dinner and breakfast were arranged in the restaurant, with each group of guests seated in a partitioned room. The waitress serving us spoke a little English and was helpful. Every item in the dinner was fantastic. The tofu pot in the breakfast was also exceptionally good. When we depart the hotel staff would pull your car to the hotel front door.||Overall the service and food quality of the hotel...