Leaving
海中鳥居 we drive for about 15 minutes to Taradake Onsen
太良嶽温泉. This
location in Saga is famous to experience the gravitational pull of the moon,
with big tidal difference.
The ryokan we have booked for the night is Kanigoten
蟹御殿. There
are 17 parking spaces for hotel guests, with also 5 EV-charging stations too.
On the two sides of the entrance are many bamboo poles, making
us feel like walking into a bamboo grove, offering a traditional yet contemporary
atmosphere.
At the lobby there is a large wooden communal table, where
guests can connect their computers and do some works, with power sockets installed
on the table, a thoughtful design.
After check-in registration and relaxing in the lobby, we notice the many different designer
sofas, demonstrating the owner’s attention to details on both interior
design and furnishings.
All guest rooms are renovated in April 2023. We have booked
an Executive Suite (Room 402) in the Main Building.
The room is very large in size, with good lighting offering
a comfortable and warm ambience. One half of the room is Western style with two
beds and a neat wooden bench for desk.
The other half is the Japanese style living room with tatami
and can serve to accommodate another 3 beds if needed. The wall panel has two
built-in TVs allowing different channels to be shown simultaneously.
But the feature in the room I like most is the sofa area facing
the large window, overlooking the Ariake Sea
有明海. It is very relaxing, with a sense of openness and deep
comfort.
The make-up room has a large window as well, looking out to
the private open-air bath with the Ariake Sea as background. There is also a
make-up table on the side.
The shower room is very clean and neat, with also a window. However,
people on the terrace looking up will be able to see through the window so we
need to lower down the shutters before bathing.
The room has its private open-air bath, allowing us to relax
in onsen while enjoying the spectacular view of the Ariake Sea. On a clear day one can even seeing Mt. Unzen
雲仙岳 and Mt. Fugen
普賢岳.
Decided to first try out its public bath, I go to the newly renovated Ariake Umi no Yu 有明海の湯. The
large public bath has a full ocean view, with the bathtub made of bluish Towada
stone 十和田石,
making one to feel being immersed in the ocean.
The Gravity Sauna on 2/F is made from spruce trees that are
said to be 350 to 400 years old and carved entirely by hand. The Grid Sauna
features a lattice design called Aino, with the heater made with the same spruce
wood, and is introduced for the first time in Japan, having a lower temperature
than the normal sauna, allowing one to enjoy without over-straining the body.
The cold bath on the terrace is 150 cm deep and can be used
while standing, to enable one to fully immerse up to the shoulder while looking
out over the Ariake Sea, with the water coming from the soft natural
underground water from the Tara Mountains 太良岳.
There is a lounge to relax after bathing, with free drinks. One thing to note is that the bath is open for day trip users as well. But during our stay it is not
crowded, and I am able to enjoy the bath all by myself for most of the time.
Dinner is served at Restaurant Ebb and Flow, with the
entrance showing a white-washed wall with the reflection of a water wave
pattern, in tune with the name of the restaurant. We have pre-ordered the Luxury
Charcoal Grilled Abalone Plan to indulge ourselves.
The first course is
新鮮活魚の盛り合わせ.
The second course is
車海老踊り喰い.
The third course is
海鮮カルパッチョ.
The fourth course is
季節の前菜盛り合わせ.
The fifth course is
海茸粕漬.
The sixth course is the signature
茄で竹崎蟹. The fresh Takezaki crabs are
purchased directly from local fishermen, and although it is not a special type
of crab, there is an exceptional deliciousness, with sweet taste of the meat,
bursting yolk, and is simply the best crab I have ever tasted.
The seventh course is
茸の茶碗蒸し 鼈甲餡掛け.
Then it was the grilled dishes, including
炭焼き あわび料理.
As well as
サザエ.
And
佐賀和牛溶岩焼き.
Next is the delicious
蟹釜飯.
With also
お吸い物 バラ海苔 あられ 香の物.
Desserts are
季節のデザート.
Waking up to a beautiful sunny day, we go back to Restaurant
Ebb and Flow for breakfast.
The breakfast has a wide range of food, very delicious and
also healthy.
With some rice and miso soup.
And steamed vegetable and pork as well.
We then take a walk around the ryokan. Beside the check-in
counter there is a shop which offers many products from Saga.
The Lounge is a relaxing space equipped with a self-service café
bar.
Connecting to the lounge is the open deck called Moonlit Terrace, which allows guests to enjoy a coffee under the blue sky on the day, or a glass
of wine under the stars at night.
The Moonlit Terrace has an unobstructed view of the Ariake
Sea, and on a good day it is possible to see Mt. Unzen and Mt. Fugen far away.
The cost of staying is 102,350 yen for two, including dinner
and breakfast. I give the ryokan an overall rating of 8.5 out of 10. Highly
satisfactory and recommended.
Address: 佐賀県藤津郡太良町大字大浦乙316-3
Telephone: 0954-68-2260
Website: https://www.kanigoten.com/
