- Onsen
[h1-title h1=A Japanese-style Hot Spring Inn Converted from a Serene Mansion]
Karatsu, Saga
Karatsu is located in northern Saga Prefecture, facing the Genkai Sea of the Japan Sea. Besides its beautiful seascapes and abundant nature, it is also the birthplace of rice cultivation in Japan. Wataya is situated in Karatsu City, offering stunning views of Karatsu Bay on the Japan Sea and the surrounding natural and cultural attractions.
Karatsu Onsen
Wataya’s hot spring source comes from Karatsu Onsen, which springs from the bamboo grove within the inn’s grounds. Karatsu Onsen is a weakly alkaline cold mineral spring containing small amounts of salt. Besides being effective for neuralgia, muscle pain, and motor paralysis, it can also improve cold hands and feet and relieve physical fatigue.
Local Specialty Cuisine to Satisfy Your Appetite
Surrounded by nature, Karatsu boasts abundant seasonal mountain and sea delicacies, with the most famous being locally caught squid - “Yobuko no Ika.” Wataya’s meals feature delicious dishes prepared with seafood caught from the Japan Sea, and Saga beef is also a popular dish among guests.
Dinner
Three options are available. There’s the “Yobuko Squid Sashimi Kaiseki” featuring fresh and chewy Karatsu squid, or the “Saga Beef Kaiseki” prepared with tender, sweet-fat Saga beef that melts in your mouth. Food enthusiasts who want to enjoy both land and sea delicacies can choose the “Saga Gourmet Kaiseki.” The menu changes with the seasons, using different ingredients to ensure guests always enjoy the freshest seasonal delicacies.
Breakfast
Breakfast is a seven-color Japanese morning meal full of local flavors. Served in simple and elegant Karatsu-yaki ceramic dishes, it includes rice, tofu, miso soup, and tea. The aromatic fragrances satisfy both taste and visual senses, greatly stimulating the appetite.
Japanese and Western-style Rooms Full of Nostalgic Charm
Wataya offers both pure Japanese-style and Western-style rooms. Rooms facing the Japanese garden are filled with nostalgic Japanese charm, bringing peace and tranquility to the heart. Rooms with views of Karatsu Castle allow guests to admire the beauty of historical culture left by predecessors.
“Urashima” is Karatsu’s only room with a ceramic outdoor bath. While soaking, guests can watch the trees swaying in the wind outside the window, with gentle breezes whispering softly by their ears, creating a wonderful unity with nature that releases the fatigue of daily life.
The retro-elegant Western-style room “Akajishi” is perfect for couples, full of romantic atmosphere. The Japanese-style room “Kinjishi,” which offers views of the four-season garden changes, features 10 tatami mats with simple, rustic Japanese décor that is serene and elegant.
Luxurious Bathing Time with Views of Karatsu Castle
Wataya has three bathing areas: the outdoor bath renovated with cypress wood in 2011, and the “Hinoki Observation Bath” renovated in 2012, which offers a full Japanese-style bathing experience. The “White Ceramic Bath” with views of Karatsu Castle features beautiful pure white ceramic bathtubs that are especially popular with women.
*All three baths offer private booking services. Please inquire at the front desk on the day of your stay.
The inn provides a pottery-making experience space. Interested guests can create ceramic pieces in this inn with over 140 years of history, experiencing Japanese culture firsthand.
”Wataya” - Committed to Classical Japanese Style!
“Wataya,” converted from a mansion and filled with classical Japanese charm, is a historic inn located about a 10-minute walk (5-minute drive) from JR Karatsu Station. Being close to the station, guests can go sightseeing before and after check-in procedures.
The inn is surrounded by many historical buildings and attractions, including Karatsu Castle. Nearby Karatsu Bay features Niji-no-Matsubara, one of Japan’s three great pine groves. The annual November festival “Karatsu Kunchi” is registered as an Intangible World Cultural Heritage. The increasingly popular “Karatsu Kunchi” is lively and entertaining, and staying at “Wataya” allows guests to participate up close and join in the festivities.
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[info store=Wataya add=5-10 Daimyo-koji, Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture mail=Please enter email address url=https://goo.gl/maps/QANSJ3kKNKBL6D7P6\]