Enjoy a Meal of Crab and an Outdoor Bath With a View at Hoyoso in Saga’s Taratakezaki Onsen

Enjoy a Meal of Crab and an Outdoor Bath With a View at Hoyoso in Saga’s Taratakezaki Onsen
Kazumi
Kazumi 
Published
| 4 min read

Taracho is a port town facing the Ariake Sea in Saga Prefecture. Starting with Takezaki Crab many seafoods are produced here such as seaweed and oysters. On the coast of Taracho is Taratakezaki Onsen and tucked away there is Hoyoso. The most attractive feature here is the outdoor bath with a view that overlooks the panorama of the Ariake Sea. If the weather is clear you can see a night sky full of stars as well. It is a private reserve bath so you can have it all to yourself! It is also an inn that serves Taracho’s special Takezaki Crab.

Taracho the seaside town on the Ariake Sea that has a difference in tide levels of 6m

enjoy a meal of crab and an outdoor bath with a view at hoyoso in saga’s taratakezaki onsen | taracho the seaside town on the ariake sea that has a difference in tide levels of 6m

Taratakezaki Onsen is a small town that is built right on the Ariake Sea and well known for its seafood and produce such as Takezaki Crab, Takezaki Oysters, and oranges. On National Route 207 there is a roadside market that sells all of the best that Taracho has to offer.

Along the road are also shops strung together that sell freshly grilled oysters and other seafood making it known as Grilled Oyster Road (kakiyaki kaido). We suggest stopping by on the drive to the inn.

If you take the national route towards the sea you will come to Taratakezaki Onsen. It isn’t extravagant but tucked away in the corner of the town is the Hoyoso.

We’ll first take a look at the partially remodeled Hoyoso and its attractive features.

A way to enjoy the reserve outdoor bath Jippoku even more

enjoy a meal of crab and an outdoor bath with a view at hoyoso in saga’s taratakezaki onsen | a way to enjoy the reserve outdoor bath jippoku even more

At Hoyoso there is an outdoor bath with a view that is named Jippoku (all angles open sky) by the owner for the 360 panoramic views. This outdoor bath (reservation only for 50 minutes at a time) is accessible from the inn by a passageway and up the stairs at the annex building. Pictured above is the undressing area, but here is where there is a setup that makes bathing in the outdoor bath even better. This setup is a telescope. To fully take in the starry night sky all to yourself the owner set this up. This is a serious allure for those stargazers out there. When the weather is really clear you don’t even need to use anything to really see the stars though, so use of it is optional.

Monopolize the gradually changing color sky

enjoy a meal of crab and an outdoor bath with a view at hoyoso in saga’s taratakezaki onsen | monopolize the gradually changing color sky

It would be a waste not to see the star filled sky although dependent on what the reservation time is. We definitely recommend going for a night reservation. If you get the evening time you will be rewarded with the beautifully gradual color shift of the sky into night. Once fully dark you what fills your vision is the light of the stars and a dim light near the tub.

Apparently you can revel in these stars differently by season.

In the summer is the Summer Triangle, in fall you get a harvest moon, making each season have a unique view. Depending on the day the moon and the stars put on a spectacular collaborative show. Amongst the different seasons there is one that we highly suggest, winter! The crisp clear air allows the stars to shine even brighter than usual.

The scenery is amazing but even more is the piercing silence of the atmosphere. All you can hear is the water coming out of the spout into the bath. Going from the daily hustle and bustle to this kind of natural setting all your stresses seem to just melt away.

A luxurious moment on the Ariake Sea different from the night!

enjoy a meal of crab and an outdoor bath with a view at hoyoso in saga’s taratakezaki onsen | a luxurious moment on the ariake sea different from the night!

Let’s take a look at the view in the light now! Completely different from the nightscape, the outdoor bath has a view of the glorious Ariake Sea. During the day you can take in the sea and sky’s deep blues but sunrise is truly a mystical experience here. The bath faces east so the sun crawls up the sky right in front of you. The morning sun is awe inspiring. To watch the sky brighten while you bathe is such a glorious time. For those that want to experience both, we definitely recommend staying here.

Tasty Takezaki crab year round that will have you smack your lips!

tasty takezaki crab year round that will have you smack your lips!

Takezaki crab which is harvested in the Ariake Sea can be had year round. In the winter female crab filled with eggs are served and are deliciousness itself. In the summer although smaller you can have the male crabs which have a different taste to them. The 2 crabs pictured above are for one person if you can believe it!

The secret to the tastiness of these Takezaki Crab lies in the Ariake Sea. The tide moves a whopping 6m between high and low tides. The plankton rich tidal flats feed these crabs to be extremely nutritious.

Not only is the food at Hoyoso filled with crab, there are crab everywhere from the chopstick stand, to the chopstick paper casing, to the place mat are all unified by crabs. The local sake of Saga is full bodied and drinking it from the shell of the crab is an extravagance that can only be had here.

Definitely check the weather!

If you want to really enjoy the outdoor bath at Hoyoso, make sure to check the weather! It would be a shame to be rained out or have a cloudy sky which would limit the experience here. Of course it’s all up to luck though. The winter crabs are filled with eggs and are delicious. We recommend staying the night here but you also have the option of a day trip (reservations needed) for a scenic bath.

*Visitor bath fee: 2500 JPY per group (50 minutes) reservations needed

Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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