Ureshino, in Saga-prefecture

 

Ureshino Onsen is a hot spring town in south-western Saga-prefecture. Its clear

Onsen waters are high in sodium bicarbonate and sodium chloride and feel

extremely smooth on skin, giving rise to its popularity as a “Bihada no Yu”

( beautiful skin waters).

Ureshino is famous for its tea. Terraces of tea fields sprawling out one after the next is

a scene typical of Ureshino. Proper cultivation of Ureshino Tea was begun between

1648 and 1651 by tea grower, Jinbei Yoshimura, who is even sung about in the local folk

songs. Tea seeds were gathered from Mount Sefuri and planted in the mountainous region

of Ureshino Onsen, ideal as a tea growing area.

Population : 25,000 people, Population density : 200 people / km2