Ureshino-Onsen Station — Local services in Ureshino

The only new station for the brand new Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen, the trains are immaculate, beautiful and smooth. The station looks fresh and clean also. There is a hand onsen bath right at the exit. But lots of water drips from the roof in the morning. Many Shinkansens skip this station, so there are often trains once every 2 hours. But that also means you can see Shinkansens passing by at high speed once every 1-2 hours. There is no green reserved seat ticket machine in the station, so I have to ride 5 minutes to Takeo Onsen to print tickets (I have JR Pass, so that's free). I enjoy riding the new trains, so why not? You have to call to get a taxi, station staff will not help you call them, annoying for travelers if they don't want to...

The guy who tended the JR train (Shinkansen) information desk was very abrupt, one-worded and showed no signs of hospitality. He didn't smile at all. He should either be replaced or retrained by JR. We went to ask for info two days in a row and got the same opinion. The station didn't seem to be particularly busy throughout the day. We went everywhere in Japan but never came across any train information staff with such attitudes. The ladies at the info center under a separate roof nearby were courteous, helpful and...

The air smells of green tea and rain. Wooden eaves drip softly over stone streets; old women in yukata wave from shop doors. Ureshino feels like a secret between the earth and water — famous for its silky hot springs and tea that tastes like sunlight on moss.

Tourist Tip: Famous for tea fields and skin-smooth onsen water. Visit public bath “Siebold no Yu” or nearby tea farms offering tastings. Small town — ideal for slow travelers who value peace...