Closed 'Regional Welfare Center Arakawa Onsen' in Fukue Island, Goto Islands, Nagasaki Revitalized as Public Bath 'Arakawa Onsen' and Designer Hotel 'HOTEL JIHONGAI'
Tsuyoshi Matsushita and Ryusuke Kuwata have established a new company to take over the aging Arakawa Onsen in Goto City. Designed by renowned architect Jo Nagasaka, it will be reborn as 'HOTEL JIHONGAI', fully opening in summer 2028.
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- 📰 Published: May 16, 2026 at 15:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 16, 2026 at 06:32
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 16, 2026 at 06:33 (1 min after Collected)
Taking over the 'Regional Welfare Center Arakawa Onsen' in Tamanoura Town, Goto City, Nagasaki Prefecture, is Tsuyoshi Matsushita, CEO of MTG Co., Ltd., and a native of Goto City. The facility was originally a closed inn taken over by the city's Council of Social Welfare and opened in 2011, but it was scheduled to end operations this spring due to aging.
Learning of the strong desire among local residents for its continuation, Matsushita, driven by a strong conviction that a facility loved locally for decades must be passed on to the next generation, decided to support it by fully bearing the renovation costs associated with its aging.
To operate this facility in the future, he established a new company, 'Arakawa Onsen Co., Ltd.', alongside Ryusuke Kuwata, who operates accommodations and restaurants in Goto City and other areas.
Matsushita assumed the role of Representative Director and Chairman of the new company, while Kuwata became Representative Director and President. On the 15th, they announced the concept to renew the facility as a hot spring retreat-style designer hotel, 'HOTEL JIHONGAI', starting with the opening of the hot spring facility in the summer of 2027, followed by a full grand opening in the summer of 2028.
'Arakawa Onsen', aiming to open in summer 2027, and 'HOTEL JIHONGAI', aiming for a grand opening in summer 2028.
The hotel name is derived from Kukai's words 'Jihongai', aiming to be a facility that places the history of Goto, such as the achievements of the Kentoshi (Japanese envoys to Tang Dynasty China), at its core concept, situated in a location overlooking the East China Sea.
'Jihongai' means 'leaving the furthest edge of Japan', words of determination left by Kukai when he departed Japan as an envoy to Tang China.
The design is handled by Schemata Architects, led by globally recognized architect Jo Nagasaka, known for works like 'Blue Bottle Coffee', 'Koganeyu', 'Komaeyu', and 'hotel jin'.
Jo Nagasaka, Architect, Representative of Schemata Architects
After graduating from Tokyo University of the Arts in 1998, he established his studio and currently has an office in Sendagaya. He handles a wide range of genres at various scales, from furniture to architecture and urban development. Conscious of a 1/1 scale in any size, he designs by exploring materials and expands his field of activity domestically and internationally. He establishes an architectural identity with unique concepts such as 'subtraction', 'update of knowledge', and 'invisible development', finding new values from existing environments.
The lobby features an atrium design, creating an open space overflowing with greenery and light.
The guest rooms will scale to a total of 20 rooms, centered on the second floor. The 'VIP Room' will feature a private balcony and a bath surrounded by greenery, while twin, single, and dormitory rooms will also be available to meet diverse needs.
The hot spring facility will use Goto basalt and feature open-air baths, saunas, and bedrock baths. Although it will be temporarily closed during the construction period, use solely for bathing will still be possible after the renewal, just as before.
Anticipating corporate training from urban areas, training rooms, a gym, a cafe, and a terrace overlooking the sunset will also be established.
The construction will be divided into two phases. The hot spring facility is scheduled to break ground in autumn 2026 and open in summer 2027. The accommodation facilities aim for completion in summer 2028.
Fukue Island, which has many related historical sites as the last port of call for the Kentoshi in Japan, also retains many places and legends associated with Kobo Daishi Kukai, as he last departed from Goto. You can encounter the traces of Kukai on the Goto 88 Temple Pilgrimage scattered across the island.
Matsushita stated, 'Goto is called the Mt. Koya of the West, a sacred place of Kukai. Many traces and legends of Kukai remain here. This year marks the 1250th anniversary of Kukai's birth. I want to make this a base for revitalization where people from the region and outside the prefecture can relax and experience the spirit of Kukai, who was also a pioneer of ventures.'
Learning of the strong desire among local residents for its continuation, Matsushita, driven by a strong conviction that a facility loved locally for decades must be passed on to the next generation, decided to support it by fully bearing the renovation costs associated with its aging.
To operate this facility in the future, he established a new company, 'Arakawa Onsen Co., Ltd.', alongside Ryusuke Kuwata, who operates accommodations and restaurants in Goto City and other areas.
Matsushita assumed the role of Representative Director and Chairman of the new company, while Kuwata became Representative Director and President. On the 15th, they announced the concept to renew the facility as a hot spring retreat-style designer hotel, 'HOTEL JIHONGAI', starting with the opening of the hot spring facility in the summer of 2027, followed by a full grand opening in the summer of 2028.
'Arakawa Onsen', aiming to open in summer 2027, and 'HOTEL JIHONGAI', aiming for a grand opening in summer 2028.
The hotel name is derived from Kukai's words 'Jihongai', aiming to be a facility that places the history of Goto, such as the achievements of the Kentoshi (Japanese envoys to Tang Dynasty China), at its core concept, situated in a location overlooking the East China Sea.
'Jihongai' means 'leaving the furthest edge of Japan', words of determination left by Kukai when he departed Japan as an envoy to Tang China.
The design is handled by Schemata Architects, led by globally recognized architect Jo Nagasaka, known for works like 'Blue Bottle Coffee', 'Koganeyu', 'Komaeyu', and 'hotel jin'.
Jo Nagasaka, Architect, Representative of Schemata Architects
After graduating from Tokyo University of the Arts in 1998, he established his studio and currently has an office in Sendagaya. He handles a wide range of genres at various scales, from furniture to architecture and urban development. Conscious of a 1/1 scale in any size, he designs by exploring materials and expands his field of activity domestically and internationally. He establishes an architectural identity with unique concepts such as 'subtraction', 'update of knowledge', and 'invisible development', finding new values from existing environments.
The lobby features an atrium design, creating an open space overflowing with greenery and light.
The guest rooms will scale to a total of 20 rooms, centered on the second floor. The 'VIP Room' will feature a private balcony and a bath surrounded by greenery, while twin, single, and dormitory rooms will also be available to meet diverse needs.
The hot spring facility will use Goto basalt and feature open-air baths, saunas, and bedrock baths. Although it will be temporarily closed during the construction period, use solely for bathing will still be possible after the renewal, just as before.
Anticipating corporate training from urban areas, training rooms, a gym, a cafe, and a terrace overlooking the sunset will also be established.
The construction will be divided into two phases. The hot spring facility is scheduled to break ground in autumn 2026 and open in summer 2027. The accommodation facilities aim for completion in summer 2028.
Fukue Island, which has many related historical sites as the last port of call for the Kentoshi in Japan, also retains many places and legends associated with Kobo Daishi Kukai, as he last departed from Goto. You can encounter the traces of Kukai on the Goto 88 Temple Pilgrimage scattered across the island.
Matsushita stated, 'Goto is called the Mt. Koya of the West, a sacred place of Kukai. Many traces and legends of Kukai remain here. This year marks the 1250th anniversary of Kukai's birth. I want to make this a base for revitalization where people from the region and outside the prefecture can relax and experience the spirit of Kukai, who was also a pioneer of ventures.'