Okuhita Onsen Umehibiki
奥日田温泉 うめひびき
Does Okuhita Onsen Umehibiki allow tattoos? In a private bath
Umehibiki opened in 2017 in Oyama, the plum-growing valley upriver of Hita, and its sleeping bath and open-air baths look straight across the cliffs of the Hibiki gorge.
Umehibiki publishes no tattoo rule. It keeps three private hot spring baths for staying guests, booked for 60 minutes at ¥2,200, and several room types have their own open-air and indoor bath, so a tattooed guest can stay without using the large baths.
The bath
The water is a simple spring, recirculated, with water added and heated, as the inn states. It lists the spring for poor sleep, chronic muscle and joint pain, cold sensitivity, stress, fatigue and general health. The two large baths, Ryokuho and Aojiku, swap between men and women each day; both have an open-air bath, a high-temperature sauna, a cold bath and a lukewarm bath, and Ryokuho adds the sleeping bath and a bedrock bath. The inn's own low-heat room, Katsuban-yoku, holds 42 to 43°C over a floor of ceramic balls, in single booths. Staying guests bathe free from 5 to 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to midnight. Day visitors come 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (last entry 2 p.m.) for ¥1,200, ¥500 more for Katsuban-yoku.
The three private hot spring baths are for staying guests only: one cypress tub, one of rock and one of stone. Each is ¥2,200 for 60 minutes and must be reserved.
The detached room Ryukyo, about 105 square meters, has an open-air bath and an indoor bath facing the gorge. So do the three annex rooms across the arched bridge, Oshuku suite, semi-suite and deluxe, and Nanko on the main building's first floor. The inn does not say whether the room tubs carry the spring.
The hotel
Oyama has grown plums since 1961, and the inn, opened in November 2017 by the local company Oyama Yume Kobo, calls itself a plum-themed hot spring inn; it is part of the JR Kyushu group. The rooms take the theme of being dignified and lovable, with washi paper and kumiko latticework, and all are non-smoking. Meals are built on local produce, and the inn makes its own umeshu (plum liqueur) from Oyama plums. Check-in 3 p.m., check-out 11 a.m.
Good to know
- Reserve the private bath early, 60 minutes for ¥2,200, staying guests only.
- Morning bathing starts at 5 a.m. and now runs to 10 a.m., by the inn's notice of September 2026.
- Station pickup at 3:15 and 4:15 p.m. from Hita, booked at least three days ahead; no same-day requests.
- Children still in diapers cannot use the large baths; the inn points families to the private baths.
Getting there
From Hakata the Yufuin no Mori limited express reaches Hita Station in about 75 minutes, by the inn's count. The inn's pickup leaves Hita Station at 3:15 and 4:15 p.m. and must be booked at least three days ahead; the ride is about 25 minutes. A taxi takes about 25 minutes for about ¥4,000. The return shuttle leaves the inn at 10 and 11 a.m. The Nishitetsu highway bus from Fukuoka Airport to Hita Bus Center takes about 90 minutes.
Hita STN · JR Kyudai Main Line (Yufuin no Mori limited express)
Not walkable.
Inn pickup at 3:15 and 4:15 p.m., booked three days ahead, about 25 minutes; taxi about 25 minutes, about ¥4,000.
Where it is
- Shinkansen tickets Seats between any two stations, booked by date.
- JR Kyushu Rail Pass from ¥12,000 · 3, 5 or 7 consecutive days Worth it if Hita is one stop on a longer Kyushu trip by train.
- Yufuin and Hita day tour Yufuin and Hita in a day, with the Yufuin no Mori train as an option.
- Japan Rail Pass from ¥53,000 · 7, 14 or 21 days For a trip that takes in several regions by Shinkansen and JR lines.
What happens when you arrive
Use the bath in your room, or reserve a private bath.
How we know
Bath layout confirmed, tattoo policy not published Checked on the official site (: the hot spring page lists three reservable private hot spring baths for staying guests; the rooms page lists rooms with an open-air bath)
Best for: a reserved private hot spring bath of cypress, rock or stone, or a suite with its own open-air tub over the gorge
The three private baths (cypress, rock and stone) are for staying guests only, ¥2,200 for 60 minutes, by reservation. Rooms with an indoor and an open-air bath: the detached Ryukyo (about 105 m2), the annex Oshuku suite, semi-suite and deluxe, and Nanko on the main building’s first floor. The inn does not say whether the room tubs carry spring water. Its spring is a simple spring, recirculated, with water added and heated. Opened November 2017 by Oyama Yume Kobo, a JR Kyushu group inn. Station pickup from Hita at 3:15 and 4:15 p.m., booked three days ahead.
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