Pharmacy Opens Inside Hot Spring Ryokan. "Watazoya Bessou" Establishes "Yakuhakudo" as a Base for "Yakuhaku," a New Stay Model, Opening on April 1, 2026.

Watazoya Bessou Co., Ltd. (Location: Ureshino City, Saga Prefecture; Representative Director: Yoshimoto Obara) opened "Yakuhakudo," a pharmacy within its facility, on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. "Yakuhakudo" is a new initiative where guests can receive health consultations and physical condition support during their hot spring stay. Through collaboration with Irie Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tokyo; Group Representative: Takashi Aoshima), it will serve as the implementation base for "Yakuhaku," a new stay value that combines hot spring, food, and medical perspectives.

A New Initiative: Hot Spring Ryokan × Pharmacy

Watazoya Bessou will establish "Yakuhakudo" pharmacy within its facility, aiming to provide a new stay experience that incorporates "prevention care" and "wellness" perspectives, in addition to accommodation, hot springs, and dining.

At Yakuhakudo, pharmacists will offer health consultations, physical condition support during stays, wellness proposals tailored to individual conditions, and sale of medicines.

This initiative enhances peace of mind during stays and supports an experience that helps guests regulate their mind and body condition.

This endeavor, which involves establishing a pharmacy within a hot spring ryokan and integrating it with the stay experience, is Japan's first (according to the company's own research).

Watazoya Bessou has previously focused on creating stay value that incorporates local food culture and aromas, based on the concept of a "ryokan you frequent."

By incorporating pharmacy functions through this collaboration with Irie Pharmaceutical, Watazoya Bessou proposes a new way of staying that further expands the stay experience and helps guests regulate their mind and body.

Dispensing room / Hyakumi-bako (Traditional medicine cabinet)

Role as an Implementation Base for "Yakuhaku"

"Yakuhakudo" will play a central role in "Yakuhaku," a concept advocated by Watazoya Bessou and Irie Pharmaceutical.

In Yakuhaku, a pharmacist's (yakushi) counseling serves as the starting point, integrating stay elements such as dining, hot springs, and sleep. It provides an experience that optimizes the entire stay according to each individual's physical constitution and condition.

《Stay Image》 In Yakuhaku, starting with counseling at Yakuhakudo, the entire stay, including dining, hot springs, and rest, is designed to be tailored to each individual.