HOTEL RYUGU Tenshi no Hashigo -Article（1）-
| The location name "Matsushima" means "an island of pine trees on the sea or on a lake," and there are many "Matsushima" locations in various parts of Japan. Also, a landscape similar to Matsushima in Miyagi Prefecture, one of the three most scenic spots in Japan, is also referred to as "~-no-Matsushima" or something similar. Amakusa's Matsushima, where "Tenshi no Hashigo" is located, is said to be one of Japan's three largest Matsushima islands, along with Matsushima in Miyagi Prefecture and Kujukushima in Sasebo. Nineteen islands of various sizes dot the Seto Inland Sea stretching between Oyanojima and Kamijima, connected by ten bridges, including the Amakusa Gokyo Bridge, and the scenic Amakusa Pearl Line national highway runs between them. It is an excellent driving course, and its scenery will not let go of the visitor's heart. |
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| The 4th Amakusa Bridge in front of the hotel | |
| "Amakusa" may seem like a faraway land to those who live in Kyushu, or even to those who live in the Honshu area. Amakusa is an area rich in tourism resources, with a warm climate, many hot springs, and two seafood sources: the Shiranui Sea and the Ariake Sea. This area belongs to Kumamoto Prefecture (in the Edo period, it was under the jurisdiction of the Nagasaki Magistrate), and it is surely loved by Kumamoto people, as those who prefer mountains go to Aso for their holiday trips, and those who like the sea go to Amakusa...and so on. Amakusa and Matsushima, however, had a sad history as island nations. The tragedy is the suppression of Christianity and the Shimabara-Amakusa Rebellion. The history of Christianity in Amakusa began with the arrival of Father Luis de Almeida of the Society of Jesus in 1566. After a while, the Amakusa Goninshu (The Five Amakusa Barons), including Shiki and Amakusa, who were powerful barons in the area, joined the faith. Yukinaga Konishi, who ruled Amakusa at the time, was a Christian Daimyo (feudal lord), and most of the islanders quickly became believers. However, the Tokugawa Shogunate's prohibition of Christianity and Toyotomi Hideyoshi's edict expelling Jesuit missionaries led to the beginning of suppression of the faith. In addition, a nationwide poor harvest led to a famine in Amakusa. |
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| Nanban Byobu (folding screen) in the Sarasa-kan of the Hotel Ryugu. | |
| In 1637, Amakusa-Shimabara Rebellion broke out, as a result of the combined efforts of farmers who had been living in hell due to heavy taxation (collection of annual tribute) by their landowners, anti-Tokugawa ronin, and Christians living in the area. The leader of the 37,000 men of the rebellion was Amakusa Shiro, a boy of only 16 years of age. His real name was Masuda Shiro Tokisada, and the surname Amakusa was probably taken from the name of a powerful family that had been lords of Amakusa for a long time. Although only a legend, there is a theory that Amakusa Shiro was the child of Toyotomi Hideyori (Hideyoshi's second son), who opposed the Tokugawa Shogunate. It is commonly believed that he committed suicide at Osaka Castle, but in fact, Hideyori fell to Kyushu and created Shiro there. This theory of Hideyori's illegitimacy has been plausibly discussed since Amakusa Shiro's horse mark is a gourd, the same as that of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Amakusa Shiro was financially well-off as a child, and was said to have had an affinity for learning, an excellent education, and also to have possessed magical powers. Although Amakusa Shiro held up a cross and led the battle, it is said that he committed suicide when the castle of Hara Castle in the southern part of the Shimabara Peninsula fell under the attack of the Shogunate. Here in Amakusa, there is a historical museum, Amakusa Shiro Memorial Hall, dedicated to this great rebellion. The building is unique with its medieval Portuguese architecture and exterior that resembles the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary wearing a white veil. |
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| Amakusa Shiro Memorial Hall |
HOTEL RYUGU Tenshi no Hashigo Travel Journal
Articles
The location name "Matsushima" means "an island of pine trees on the sea or on a lake," and there are many "Matsushima" locations in various parts of Japan......
Private ＆ Open-air Bath Reports
All eight rooms at "Tenshi no Hashigo" are suites with open-air baths. All of them offer an open-air bath with a view of the Amakusa Sea.....
Facilities ＆ Hot Spring Reports
"Tenshi no Hashigo" is located in the same building as "Hotel Ryugu" and is a hotel-in-hotel type of hotel. The entrance is the same as that of "Hotel Ryugu", but the front desk and lobby are separate.....
Guest Room Reports
All eight suites are equipped with an open-air bath in the "Tenshi no Hashigo". The common features are chic interior design and luxurious furnishings.....
Cuisine Reports
Dinner at "Tenshi no Hashigo" is a creative teppanyaki-centered kaiseki course served in the exclusive "Kokorozukushi" dining restaurant. You can enjoy to the fullest the carefully selected local delicacies such as Higo beef, Ise lobster, abalone, and Amakusa Daioh ( local chicken).....
Extra Reports
About 100 couples a year celebrate their weddings at the "Hotel Ryugu". A brick chapel, called "Sea Bride", is located on a site that juts out toward the sea, and has become a symbol of the inn.....
| Keywords for this ryokan | |||
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| Suites with open-air baths | |||
| Guest room open-air bath overlooking the sea and islands of Matsushima | |||
| Private baths and footbath BAR available in the main building | |||
| Excellent teppanyaki + creative kaiseki dinner | |||
| Enjoy the Amakusa sunset on a private beach | |||
| People like this are OK | |||
| Those who want to spend a relaxing time with a peaceful view of the ocean. Those who are looking for a higher grade of service and surprises. |
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| People like this are NG | |||
| Those who do not like the sophisticated service of a hotel. |
| Check-In | 3:00 p.m. | ||
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| Check-Out | 11:00 a.m. (Anniversary plan is until noon) | ||
| Card usage | Allowed | ||
| Room Views | Sea・Garden | ||
| In-room Meal | Dinner in room only for Type S room guests. Others are served at the restaurant "Kokorozukushi". Breakfast is served in the room. |
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| Dinner | Teppanyaki + Creative Kaiseki | ||
| Breakfast | Choose Japanese or Western meal | ||
| Official website's online reservation benefits | Member's card membership (limited to repeat guests, apply at the time of your stay) ①Reservations can be made 12 months in advance (by phone only) ②For reservations made through the official website or by phone, 1,000 yen off at "Hotel Ryugu" and 2,000 yen off at "Tenshi no Hashigo" (not possible for reservations paid in advance). |
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| Special Packages | Early bird discount 30, Anniversary, Adult family trip, etc. Check the Official Website for details★ | ||
| General rooms | From 30,800 yen ※The room width is from 60 sq.m. to |
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| Establishment / Reconstruction | Established in 2008 | ||
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| Number of Rooms | All 8 rooms (All rooms have an open-air bath) | ||
| Number of People Accommodated | 20 persons | ||
| Private Bath | 3 private open-air baths and 2 private indoor baths Fee : 60 min. 3,000 yen, 90 min. 4,500 yen Available hours : 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. View: Sea, Islands |
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| Public bath / Other | Public baths for men and women (baths are switchable) Available hours: 6:00 a.m. to midnight |
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| Parking Area | 60 cars | ||
| Pets | Not Allowed (Introduce pet hotels in the nearby area) | ||
| Barrier Free | Not Supported | ||
| Esthetics / Massages | Esthetics available (30 min. from 4500 yen) Massages available by outside arrangement (40 min. from 4,000 yen) |
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| Internet | Free Wi-Fi in all rooms | ||
| DVD | DVD Watchable | ||
| TV Channels | NHK: 2 stations, Private Broadcasting: 4 stations, NHKBS: 2 stations, BS: 6 stations | ||
| Facilities | Bedrock bath, Footbath BAR, Shops, Tea lounge | ||
| Refrigerator System | Inclusive (everything in the refrigerator is free of charge) / Freezer: not available Refrigerator drinks: Beer & Mineral water for the number of guests |
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| Vending Machine | Available | ||
| Sales shop | Available | ||
| Yukata | ◎ | Bath towels | ◎ |
| Towels | ◎ | Soap | ◎ |
| Body wash | ◎ | Shampoo | ◎ |
| Conditioner | ◎ | Rinse in shampoo | ◎ |
| Shower cap | ◎ | Toothbrush | ◎ |
| Hair dryer | ◎ | Brush | ◎ |
| Comb | ◎ | Razor blade | ◎ |
| Cotton bud | ◎ | Toilet with washer | ◎ |
| Wheelchair | Free rental wheelchair, barrier-free restroom | ||
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| Child | － | ||
| Foreign Languages | － | ||
| Recommended Souvenirs | Simon tea | ||
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| Nearby Convenience Store | 5 min. by car | ||
| Cellular Antennas | ◎docomo | ◎au | ◎softbank |
| Spring quality | Sodium-Chloride spring (hypotonic, weak alkaline, hyperthermal spring) | ||
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| Temperature of the source | 43.1℃ | ||
| Output rate | － | ||
| Hydrogen ions | pH 8.11 | ||
| Total dissolved substances (excluding gases) | － | ||
| Gushing of the source | Hot spring water is drawn from a source controlled by the Hot Springs Association. | ||
| Add water / Circulation Filtration | ○Private bath: 100% free-flowing hot-spring water with no added water ○Guest room open-air baths, public baths for men and women : Circulation ○Indoor bath in guest rooms: Tap water |
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| Water heating | Using | ||
| Sterilization of bath | Yes | ||
| Replacement of hot water in bathtub | Private baths are available every time a guest changes, and the other baths are available once a day. | ||
| Bath Additive | No using | ||
| Indications by Spring Quality (Revised on July 1, 2014) | Cuts, Peripheral circulatory disturbance, Sensitivity to cold, Depression, Dry skin | ||
| General Indications for Bathing (Revised on July 1, 2014) | Chronic pain or stiffness of muscles or joints (chronic phase of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, lower back pain, neuralgia, frozen shoulder, bruises, sprains, etc.), muscle stiffness in motor paralysis, excessive sensitivity to cold, peripheral nerve disorder, decline of gastrointestinal function (slow digestion, intestinal gas formation, etc.), mild high blood pressure, impaired glucose tolerance (diabetes), mild hypercholesterolemia, mild asthma or emphysema, hemorrhoid pain, autonomic instability, various symptoms from stress (sleep disorders, depression, etc.),convalescence stage of illness, recovery from fatigue, promotion of health. | ||
| Color of hot water | Clear and colorless | ||
| For drinking | Cannot | ||
| Indications for drinking | ― | ||
| Smell / Taste | Odorless and salty | ||
| By Train | From Hakata or Kagoshima → JR Kyushu Shinkansen Udo Station → Bus (Rapid Amakusa) to Maejima stop ◆Bus (Rapid Amakusa) from Kumamoto Station is recommended. |
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| Shuttle Bus | Free pick-up from JR Sankaku Station or Matsushima Port (by reservation only) | ||
| By Car | Fukuoka/Kagoshima → (via Kyushu Expressway) approx. 60 min. from Matsuhashi IC | ||
| Nearby Sightseeing Spots | Amakusa Five Bridges, Shiro Amakusa Memorial Hall | ||
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| Recreation (tourist farms, parks, etc.) | Dolphin watching and cruising | ||
| Sports | Marine sports, golf, fishing | ||
| Staff messages |  Message from Mr. Hidehiko Matsumoto, Senior Managing DirectorEscaping the hustle and bustle of the city, enjoy a peaceful time together as a married couple. Please spend a special time with your loved one on your anniversary or birthday trip. |
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| Date of Interview | Apr. 25, 2011 | ||
| Date of Information update | Jun. 18, 2023 | ||
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※When making a reservation, please mention that you saw "kashikiri-onsen.com" |
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Article creator of this ryokan
CEO of Onsen.com, Inc.
For more than 30 years, he has been visiting hot spring ryokans all over Japan, persuading innkeepers of the need for "private baths". He is still a traveler who spends half of the year at a hot spring.In addition to being a article creater, photographer, and drone pilot, he also designs websites and provides consulting services.
