Thank You for 40 Years. Kurokawa Onsen's "Nyuto Tegata" Launches Special Projects for Its Milestone Year.

The Nyuto Tegata (hot spring bathing pass), born in 1986, has been loved by many customers for 40 years as a pass to visit three open-air baths. In this milestone year, various commemorative projects to express gratitude for long-standing patronage will be held from July 2026 to the end of March 2027.

Project 1: Release of 40th Anniversary Design Tegata

The "ojisan" (old man) from the tegata has emerged from the open-air bath for the first time in 40 years.

On July 1st, the design of the Nyuto Tegata will be renewed. In the 40th-anniversary special design, the "ojisan" illustration that was previously drawn inside the tegata has now jumped out of the open-air bath and outside the tegata.

Complete your tegata by stamping the "Ojisan Mark" placed in the hot spring town on the tegata where the ojisan is no longer present. Furthermore, by finding the rare stamps "Yubari Bijin Mark" (beautiful woman after bathing) and "Furo Agari Ojisan Mark" (ojisan after bathing) hidden somewhere in the town, you can complete a one-of-a-kind 40th-anniversary tegata.

On the right is the 40th Anniversary Nyuto Tegata. You can stamp the ojisan and other marks.

Implementation Period: July 1, 2026 (Wed) - End of March 2027 Sales Location: Kurokawa Onsen Ryokan Kumiai (Kurokawa Onsen Ryokan Association) and each ryokan Number of Issues: 50,000 copies *Ends when sold out *Stamps are available at the sales counters of the Kurokawa Onsen Ryokan Kumiai and each ryokan. Rare stamps are hidden in various locations throughout the hot spring town.

Project 2: Summer Cool-Down Event "Yusuzumi"

Into the hot spring town on a summer night, illuminated by the light of lanterns and stone lamps.

"Yusuzumi" is a summer tradition event where the night streets of Kurokawa Onsen are illuminated with lanterns and stone lamps. The alleys and bridges of the hot spring town are enveloped in a gentle light, allowing you to enjoy a fantastical atmosphere different from the daytime.

Minamioguni Town, where Kurokawa Onsen is located, is at a high altitude and serves as a cool summer resort even in midsummer, with cool nights. In the past 10 years, there has been only one tropical night (nighttime temperature exceeding 25 degrees Celsius). Please enjoy a luxurious summer where you can sleep without air conditioning.

Implementation Period: July 18, 2026 (Sat) - August 22, 2026 (Sat) Venue: Kurokawa Onsen Town Yusuzumi Noryosai (Summer Evening Festival): August 22 (Sat) 2:00 PM - 10:00 PM at Fureai Hiroba (Community Plaza)

◎ Yusuzumi Yokocho (Food Alley) Every Saturday | Fireworks sales & food trucks

Sales will be available for enjoying fireworks at the foot of the bridge or by the river, and food trucks will also be present, allowing you to spend summer nights with the sound of the flowing river.

◎ Rental of Handheld Lanterns (Planned) Handmade handheld lanterns made with Japanese materials will be available for rent. Please stroll through the night hot spring town in yukata, holding a lantern and guided by the light of the stone lamps.

◎ Noryosai (Summer Evening Festival) | August 22 (Sat) 2:00 PM - 10:00 PM

The final day of "Yusuzumi" will conclude with a one-day Noryosai. Enjoy a wide array of content including lantern and umbrella-andon lighting, tegata game experiences, handheld fireworks experiences, and food trucks.

This project will continue until the end of March 2027. New commemorative projects are planned to be rolled out sequentially in autumn and winter. Details will be announced on the official website of the Kurokawa Onsen Ryokan Kumiai as they are decided.

About Kurokawa Onsen

The Aso region, with its magnificent panoramic views, is certified as a Global Geopark and a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System. It is an area where not only rich natural environments but also traditions and cultures nurtured by history still breathe. Kurokawa Onsen is located in the deep mountainous area of this Aso region.

In this area, a unique worldview has been created through landscape design in harmony with the natural environment and the "Nyuto Tegata" for visiting open-air baths. Currently, approximately 900,000 people visit annually, enjoying hot spring hopping and the natural scenery (of which 300,000 are overnight guests).

Operational Information

Kurokawa Onsen Tourism Ryokan Cooperative

Address: 6594-3 Manganji, Aso-gun, Kumamoto Prefecture

Phone: 0967-44-0076

Kurokawa Onsen Official Website https://www.kurokawaonsen.or.jp/

Kurokawa Onsen Recruitment Site https://www.kurokawaonsen.or.jp/recruit/

Kurokawa Onsen Online Store https://kurokawaonsen.stores.jp

Kurokawa Onsen Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kurokawaonsen

Kurokawa Onsen Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kurokawaonsen/

Kurokawa Onsen Twitter https://twitter.com/dai2sonmin