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Ryokan Wataya
forumWhat families say
Rakuten Travel rating 3.61 out of 5 (279 reviews). Several reviews come from families traveling with babies or elementary school children. Guests report that the open-air bath was gently warm and easy for children to get into, and that the ryokan set up a baby bed in the dining area and prepared items such as chasoba (green tea soba noodles) free of charge for a 2-year-old. Posts from families praising the attentiveness of the proprietress and staff also stand out. On the other hand, some guests mention being bothered by how well the room air conditioning worked and by black mold in the hinoki cypress bath.
Categories
Kids Facilities
Crib (available to borrow)
Crib (available to borrow)
A crib is available to borrow as part of the room equipment.
Private-hire bath Karafune
Private-hire bath Karafune
Karafune is a bath reserved for private use. It uses a bath additive rather than onsen water, costs 2,000 yen for 40 minutes, is available only to staying guests, and requires you to select a room type that includes the private-hire bath when booking.
- •Limited to staying guests
- •You must select a room type that includes the private-hire bath when booking
Overview
Ryokan Wataya is a hot-spring ryokan in the center of Karatsu, Saga, founded in 1876. Its own spring source, Karatsu Onsen Kaguyahime no Yu, rises from the bamboo grove on the grounds and feeds the view bath, the hinoki cypress bath and the ceramic bath; together with a private-hire bath that does not use onsen water, there are five types of bath in all. All 9 guest rooms can be supplied with a crib to borrow, and booking the private-hire bath lets a family bathe without worrying about other guests. Note that there is no elevator, and the bathing fee for children is 400 yen from age 4.
Rooms
The ryokan has 9 Japanese-style tatami rooms and Japanese-Western rooms, each with its own character. There is an 8-mat Japanese-style tatami room looking out over the garden (1-3 guests, child rates available); a Western-style twin room that makes use of a space once used as a reception room (1-2 guests); a 10-mat Japanese-style tatami room where you can choose a castle-side or garden-side view (1-5 guests, child rates available); a spacious 15-mat Japanese-style tatami room well suited to families (2-5 guests, child rates available); a room with the only ceramic open-air bath in Karatsu (1-3 guests, child rates available); and Yamashachi, a 15-mat corner Japanese-Western room looking out over Karatsu Castle and the old castle town below (2-5 guests, child rates available). Beds were installed in Yamashachi in 2023, bringing the number of rooms with beds to two, where previously only the Western-style twin room on the first floor had them. There is no elevator in the building, so some rooms require going up and down stairs.
Dining
For dinner, guests can choose the standard kaiseki course or kaiseki courses featuring squid from Yobuko in Karatsu or Saga beef. Dinner is served either in your room or in a dining venue, and groups dining together can be accommodated. Breakfast is Asa Karatsu Gohan, built around seven carefully chosen elements - rice, miso soup, tofu, a fish dish, pickles, a drink and hospitality - inspired by the seven colors of Niji no Matsubara (the pine grove that is one of Karatsu's famous sights). It features rice grown in Karatsu, dried fish from the Genkai Sea and Wataya's handmade tofu from Kawashima. Breakfast is served from 7:30 to 9 a.m. and dinner from 6 to 8 p.m.
Baths and Onsen
The baths use the ryokan's own spring source, Karatsu Onsen Kaguyahime no Yu, discovered in the bamboo grove on the grounds. It is a sodium chloride and sulfate spring, hypotonic, weakly alkaline and classified as a cold mineral spring. There are five types of bath, including an open-air bath in a small garden, a hinoki cypress bath overlooking the Machida River and a ceramic bath with views of Karatsu Castle; there is one open-air bath, which alternates between men and women. Bathing hours are from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., with the men's and women's baths swapping daily; the open-air bath is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and the indoor baths from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., so the baths cannot be used from late at night until early morning. The bathing fee is 800 yen for adults and 400 yen for children ages 4 and over. The private-hire bath Karafune uses a bath additive rather than onsen water. It costs 2,000 yen for 40 minutes, is available only to staying guests, and requires you to select a room type that includes the private-hire bath when booking.
Family-Friendly Features
A crib is available to borrow as part of the room equipment. Booking the private-hire bath Karafune gives a family bathing time to themselves, and it is limited to staying guests (it uses a bath additive rather than onsen water). Choosing the 15-mat Japanese-Western room Yamashachi includes one free 40-minute session in the private-hire bath as a room benefit, with the bath additive included. The bathing fee for children is set at 400 yen from age 4. Child rates are available for the 8-mat, 10-mat and 15-mat Japanese-style tatami rooms, the room with the ceramic open-air bath, and the 15-mat Japanese-Western room Yamashachi. Keep in mind that there is no elevator in the building, so some rooms require going up and down stairs.
Access
The ryokan is in the center of Karatsu, about a 15-minute walk from JR Karatsu Station. It is about 1 hour by car (55 km) from Fukuoka and Hakata, and about 40 minutes from Taku IC on the Nagasaki Expressway. There is parking for 20 cars on the grounds, available on a first-come, first-served basis. Luggage can also be stored free of charge after checkout.
Access & Information
| location_onAddress | 5-10 Daimyokoji, Karatsu, Saga 847-0012 |
|---|---|
| directions_carAccess | From Fukuoka Airport or JR Hakata Station, take the JR train bound for Karatsu and get off at Karatsu Station; from there it is 3 minutes by car or 15 minutes on foot. About 40 minutes from Taku IC on the Nagasaki Expressway. |
| trainNearest station | Karatsu Station |
| local_parkingParking | Parking for 20 cars, available on a first-come, first-served basis. |
| callPhone | +81-955-72-4181 |
| paymentsCards | VISA, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, UC, DC, NICOS, Bank Card, UFJ Card, Mastercard, Saison, JTB, Rakuten Card |
| languageOfficial site | https://e-wataya.com/open_in_new |
Reference price as of August 22, 2026 (stay date 2026-09-12). Please check the booking site for actual rates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we borrow a crib for our baby?
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Yes. A crib is available to borrow as part of the room equipment, along with slippers and a desk lamp.
Can our family bathe privately?
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Yes. The private-hire bath Karafune costs 2,000 yen for 40 minutes and is available only to staying guests; you need to select a room type that includes the private-hire bath when booking. It uses a bath additive rather than onsen water. Choosing the 15-mat Japanese-Western room Yamashachi includes one free 40-minute session, with the bath additive included.
How much is the bathing fee for children, and when are the baths open?
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The bathing fee is 800 yen for adults and 400 yen for children ages 4 and over. Bathing hours are from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., with the men's and women's baths swapping daily; the open-air bath is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and the indoor baths from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., so the baths cannot be used from late at night until early morning.
Are there stairs, or is there an elevator?
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There is no elevator in the building, so some rooms require going up and down stairs. Please keep this in mind when choosing a room.
How do we get to the ryokan, and is there parking?
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The ryokan is in the center of Karatsu, about a 15-minute walk from JR Karatsu Station, or 3 minutes by car. It is about 1 hour by car (55 km) from Fukuoka and Hakata, and about 40 minutes from Taku IC on the Nagasaki Expressway. There is parking for 20 cars on a first-come, first-served basis, and luggage can be stored free of charge after checkout.
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Information on this page was compiled by directly consulting Official website, Rakuten Travel (last verified: August 2026). Prices, availability and seasonal operations change — please check each booking site for the latest information.
We take care to keep information accurate, but always confirm the latest details on the hotel's official site and booking sites before you book or visit.