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- [Fuku Tabi Nagato] A Winter Getaway in Yamaguchi’s Nagato: Hot Springs and a Full Course of Fugu
[Fuku Tabi Nagato] A Winter Getaway in Yamaguchi’s Nagato: Hot Springs and a Full Course of Fugu
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Last updated
Oct 16, 2026
In Yamaguchi Prefecture, the word for fugu (pufferfish) is pronounced "fuku," which also means good fortune — making it a symbol of good luck.
This winter in Yamaguchi's Nagato, enjoy more than just exquisite fugu cuisine. Discover a range of seasonal pleasures: relax in renowned hot springs, savor the exclusive "Kōfuku Shirako-zake," and let an overnight stay deepen your perfect winter reward trip.
[Fuku Tabi Nagato] View Participating Ryokan
About Fuku Tabi Nagato
This is a travel proposal to savor a full course of winter fugu cuisine in Nagato City, paired with a relaxing hot spring stay.
After enjoying the season's signature flavors — translucent fugu sashimi, fugu hot pot that warms you to the core, and fragrant fried fugu —
treat yourself to a special drink found only in Nagato: "Kōfuku Shirako-zake."
By staying overnight rather than visiting for the day, you can fully savor the lingering satisfaction of the meal along with time spent enveloped in the soothing steam of the hot springs.
Fugu, hot springs, and a quiet night at your ryokan come together to create a reward trip unique to winter in Nagato.
- ■ Fuku Tabi Nagato and Nagato's Five Famous Hot Springs
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Nagato City is home to five distinctive hot spring areas known as "Nagato's Five Famous Hot Springs": the scenic riverside Nagato Yumoto Onsen Town, the tranquil mountain retreat of Tawarayama Onsen, the ocean-view Yuya-wan Onsen and Kiwado Onsen, and Yumen Onsen, nestled in a nature-rich countryside setting.
Letting the winter chill melt away in the steam of these hot springs, as both body and mind gradually unwind, is one of the true joys of a trip to Nagato.
Warm up in the hot springs before enjoying fugu cuisine and Kōfuku Shirako-zake, then soak once more after the meal to savor the lingering satisfaction.
By combining a relaxing hot spring stay with a memorable meal — not just an overnight stay — your winter trip to Nagato becomes a deeper, more unforgettable experience.
- ■ Dining to Enjoy During "Fuku Tabi Nagato"
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The star of a winter trip to Nagato is, without question, fugu cuisine.
"Fuku Tabi Nagato" offers a full course that lets you enjoy the many flavors of fugu, including fugu sashimi, fugu hot pot, and fried fugu.
Beautifully translucent fugu sashimi is prized for its delicate texture and refined flavor.
Its subtle yet deep taste, which unfolds with every bite, makes it a dish befitting a winter feast.
Fugu hot pot, which warms you from the inside out, is a dish best enjoyed during the cold season.
The broth, rich with the umami of fugu, is delicious with vegetables and in the finishing rice porridge, filling your dining time with warmth and satisfaction.
In addition, crispy fried fugu and kaiseki courses crafted uniquely by each ryokan each bring their own distinct character to the table.
The chef's skill combined with the hospitality of each inn creates a one-of-a-kind winter culinary experience found only in Nagato.
What makes this journey truly special is a drink found only in Nagato: "Kōfuku Shirako-zake." The rich flavor of milt paired with the gentle warmth of sake creates a taste that gently lingers after your fugu meal.
Enjoy fugu, relax in the hot springs, and savor Kōfuku Shirako-zake.
Because you're staying overnight rather than visiting for the day, you can fully savor the lingering satisfaction after your meal — this is the true charm of "Fuku Tabi Nagato." Enjoy a meal that satisfies both body and soul, found only in winter in Nagato.
- ■ What Is "Kōfuku Shirako-zake," the Signature Drink of "Fuku Tabi Nagato"?
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A drink that gently lingers alongside the aftertaste of fugu cuisine.
That is "Kōfuku Shirako-zake," a specialty found only in Nagato.
"Kōfuku Shirako-zake" was developed by the Nagato Restaurant and Beverage Association as a special drink symbolizing the Fuku Tabi Nagato experience. The rich umami of milt combined with the warmth of sake deepens the satisfaction of a fugu meal even further.
When people think of fugu, dishes like fugu sashimi, fugu hot pot, and fried fugu often come to mind as ways to enjoy "the pleasure of eating." In Nagato, however, that pleasure has been extended into a single glass of sake. Enjoyed as the finishing touch to a meal, it allows you to savor the lingering flavors of winter at a leisurely pace.
Kōfuku Shirako-zake is far from just a novelty item. It was born from the desire of local chefs and restaurant professionals to make dining in Nagato an even more memorable experience. How best to bring out the umami of milt, and how to enhance its pairing with fugu cuisine — this drink was carefully refined through repeated trial and error, created especially for Nagato's winter season.
- Warm your body in the hot springs, savor a full course of fugu, and let yourself be immersed in the lingering taste of Kōfuku Shirako-zake.
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Because you can rest afterward at your ryokan, this drink leaves an even deeper impression.
This is a pleasure that can only be fully experienced by staying overnight — not something you can savor on a day trip.
"Kōfuku Shirako-zake" is a special taste that gives you one more reason to stay the night in Nagato this winter.
- [Fuku Tabi Nagato] Participating Ryokan │ Reservations
- Here, we introduce trusted ryokan where you can spend "the perfect night" in Nagato.
All listings link to the official website or reservation page.
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Kiwado Onsen Retreat Yukyu no Toki
「Kiwado Onsen offers a different charm with every visit, as the seasons change throughout the year. In the open-air bath, relax while taking in the grand scenery of Kita-Nagato Coast Quasi-National Park — watching the sunrise in the morning and the moonlight at night. We offer a special experience where you can savor exquisite Japanese cuisine with all five senses, made with seasonal fish from Nagato's Senzaki and Shimonoseki's Karato, Yamaguchi wagyu beef, and locally grown terraced-field rice, all while enjoying breathtaking views.」
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Tawarayama Onsen Izumiya Ryokan
「A hot spring therapy inn at Tawarayama Onsen, known as one of the finest hot springs for beautiful skin in western Japan. The row of wooden ryokan buildings looks as though time has stood still since the Showa era. Enjoy the nostalgic atmosphere of a traditional hot spring therapy town at the old-fashioned public bath, and savor homemade dishes prepared by the proprietress, featuring plenty of local health foods such as fresh fish caught in the Sea of Japan and seasonal wild plants and herbs grown in Tawarayama.」
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Yuya-wan Onsen Hotel Yokikan
「Carefully selected fresh, nourishing ingredients come together in creative cuisine that celebrates the flavors of each season. Enjoy to the fullest the bounty of the sea and mountains found in the nature-rich San'in Kitaura region. From the hotel's large windows and the sauna, you can take in sweeping views of Yuya Bay, enjoying the ever-changing expressions of ocean and sky colored by stunning ocean views and sunsets.」
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Ryokan Inspired by Yang Guifei Gyokusenkaku
「We invite all who come to rest and unwind on their journey into a world of distant romance. Nagato Yumoto Onsen Town is an 'outdoor paradise,' delightful to stroll through day or night. We offer guest rooms each with their own unique charm, hot springs using 100% natural spring water, the Yang Guifei-inspired bath 'Kasei-yu' (women's bath), and seasonal kaiseki cuisine.」
