Furuyu Onsen Ogiya

The Furuyu hot spring is around 34-38 degrees Celsius, so it isn't very hot. It felt strange at first, but I got used to it quickly. I could use the large public bath freely from 7 am to 10 pm and had time to relax there. The guest room was old, but clean and well kept, with no inconvenience during my stay. I stayed for two nights. Maybe because of the Spring Equinox holiday and Cherry Blossom Marathon, this was the only place available in Furuyu, Sagawa during my trip. The bus ride from downtown Saga took about an hour, and the scenery along the way kept me interested. The female owner shared plenty of information using a translator, which helped me feel comfortable and get some rest. The meals were a highlight, even though I booked through Agoda and couldn't choose them. On the first night we had carp sashimi and Saga beef sukiyaki, both delicious, and the mothers who cooked it showed real skill. The second dinner was Saga beef shabu-shabu and Giwa Soba. I was so happy to have the soba after being disappointed that I couldn't eat at the Giwa Soba restaurant. The course was great, and I was very satisfied. I couldn't have breakfast on departure day because of the bus schedule, which was disappointing, but I can come back another time.

The next morning I took another soak, then had a sumptuous breakfast. Good food and a hot spring were enough to satisfy both my stomach and my heart. It felt like a wonderful reward for making the trip. I had the sukiyaki set plan with one night and two meals. Dinner was A5-grade Saga beef sukiyaki, followed by carp sashimi, koikoku (carp soup), and homemade pudding and chiffon cake. After dinner I tried the unusual tatami hot spring. The soft floor felt warm underfoot, and there were both lukewarm and hot-water options. The hot bath wasn't too hot, so it was easy to get in and soak. They also offered complimentary lactic acid drinks and ice cream by the entrance. I spent some time unwinding in the lounge, which has a large bookshelf, and relaxing in my Japanese-style room. It was quiet and calm there, and the window view was lovely.

The food and hot springs were both excellent. I was startled once when staff came into our dining room without knocking or calling out. It would've been better if they'd announced themselves first.

We stayed in a modern Japanese-Western-style room with a relaxing hammock. The old inn has a cute renovated interior, and it was nice to have a coffee maker in the room. The only drawback was the lack of an elevator. Going between the third floor and the basement hot spring was a bit of a hassle, and I wouldn't suggest this place for elderly people with mobility issues. For everyone else, I'd highly recommend it. The Saga beef sukiyaki kaiseki was incredibly good, and for the price the food was excellent. We enjoyed local sake, and even the dessert was delicious. It was a well-deserved trip. The hot spring is free-flowing and alkaline, with lukewarm water that's great for a relaxing soak. There were also lactic acid drinks and mini ice creams outside the hot spring.