Onboard Activities
The Seto Inland Sea Casual Daytime Cruise
also feature special events
and activities on each voyage.
Further details of the event will be provided in the event program
that will be distributed on the day.
Sunday, Sep. 13
《Next Japonism Special Unit》
A Sonic Collaboration:
Shamisen, Shinobue, Guitar, and Piano
- Event Type
- Concert
Mayumi Koba
Hikaru
Erika
Kentaro Sumiyoshi
Profile
Piano: Mayumi Koba
Born in Minoh, Osaka Prefecture, Mayumi Koba began studying piano at an early age under the guidance of her father.
While attending Osaka College of Music, she was drawn to jazz and has since pursued a performance career centered on free musical expression unconstrained by genre.
Often described as having a singing piano style, her performances gently resonate with listeners’ hearts, evoking vivid scenes and stories through their warmth and emotional depth.
In addition to her original compositions, she moves seamlessly across genres, including jazz, pop, and classical music, performing in a wide range of settings from solo recitals to ensemble projects.
Alongside her performing career, she is also involved in planning and producing music events, focusing on creating meaningful musical spaces and atmospheres that connect closely with audiences.
Guitar: Kentaro Sumiyoshi
Kentaro Sumiyoshi began playing guitar at the age of 14. After graduating from music school, he has supported major artists in live performances and participated in TV commercial recordings. He also performed as a guitarist at a gospel event held at Osakajō Hall.
Currently, he remains active as a live and recording support guitarist for various artists while also working energetically as a guitar instructor.
His emotionally rich sound, at times gentle and enveloping, deeply touches listeners’ hearts, revealing different colors and expressions depending on the musicians he collaborates with.
In February 2013, he formed the acoustic unit KenKoba with pianist Mayumi Koba. Centered on original compositions, the duo creates and performs music that expresses their unique artistic world: sounds that captivate audiences and linger in the heart.
KenKoba released their first album, Dear... , in April 2015, their second album, With..., in November 2017, and their third album, Home, in May 2021.
In June 2023, joined by Akira Hasegawa (bass) and Ayuko Ikeda (percussion), they released the first album, TetRA, under the project name KenKobaHassA~yu⤴.
Their works are available through the KenKoba and Sumiken online shops.
Next Japonism Erika – Shamisen Artist
Born in Osaka Prefecture, Erika began studying piano in early childhood and developed a strong interest in arranging and composition. At the age of 13, after hearing the sound of the shamisen for the first time, she was captivated by its distinctly Japanese tone and began studying the instrument.
In addition to her solo performance activities, she appears in shows for international visitors to Japan and plans and produces stage performances in Japan. She also creates original freestyle compositions that incorporate elements of traditional Japanese aesthetics, exploring new expressions rooted in Japanese sound.
Next Japonism Hikaru – Shinobue Artist
Hikaru is a flutist from Kaizuka, Osaka, who expresses emotion through sound. With delicate breath control and a passionate tone, Hikaru is a shinobue performer who moves the hearts of listeners.
Cherishing tones that reflect landscapes and subtle shades of human emotion, Hikaru continues to expand the possibilities of the shinobue by embracing free and innovative forms of expression.
There is more to Oita than Beppu and Yufuin. Explore a wide variety of unique and memorable hot springs.
Rediscover the Hot Spring Charms of Oita, Japan’s Onsen Prefecture
- Event Type
- Tourist information booth
Oita Prefecture is widely known as Japan’s Onsen Prefecture. While Beppu and Yufuin are famous throughout the country, did you know that Oita is also home to many other hidden hot spring destinations with their own unique appeal?
During our daytime event, we will hold a special program featuring Oita’s hot springs.
In addition to an onsen seminar in which you can learn about how hot springs work and how to enjoy them, there will also be publicity booths introducing the unique attractions of different hot spring areas, as well as limited-edition novelty gifts.
We hope you will take this opportunity to discover the rich and fascinating world of Oita’s hot springs.
Participating Hot Spring Areas
Sujiyu Onsen in Kokonoe Town, Nagayu Onsen in Taketa City, Yunohira Onsen in Yufu City
Event Schedule and Details
Information Corner or Promotion Booth for Famous Oita Hot Springs
・Time:. 1:30 PM to 8:00 PM
・Venue:. 6th Floor Atrium
・Details:. Highlights and local attraction guides, plus limited novelty gifts for the first 200 visitors, including original Yunohira Onsen stickers and postcards
Onsen Seminar.
・Time:. 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
・Venue:. Onboard Restaurant
・Lecturer:. Mr. Junichiro Yuki, Executive Director, Beppu Onsen Geo-Museum
・Details:. An easy-to-understand introduction on how hot springs work, the appeal of different spring qualities, and ways to enjoy Oita’s hot springs
No advance reservation is required, and the seminar is free for all passengers to attend.
Special Program
Onsen Seminar
We are honored to welcome the Executive Director of the Beppu Onsen Geo-Museum, a certified non-profit organization, who will provide an easy-to-understand lecture covering everything from the fundamentals of hot springs to the rich appeal of Oita’s onsen culture.
【Seminar Topics】
１）What is an onsen
２）How hot springs are formed
３）The appeal of hot springs, including color and spring quality
４）How to enjoy hot springs
５）Hot springs in Oita
Junichiro Yuki
Profile
Junichiro Yuki
Mr. Yuki is executive director of the Beppu Onsen Geo-Museum, a certified non-profit organization.
Mr. Yuki worked at Idemitsu Kosan, where he was involved in operational improvement initiatives and the launch of new business projects. After serving as a director of Idemitsu Credit, he retired from his final post as Secretary General of the National Idemitsu Association.
At the Beppu Onsen Geo-Museum, Mr. Yuki is engaged in promoting the Onsen Meister certification program, which aims to develop people who can share the appeal of hot springs with the world.
Participating Hot Spring Area and Featured Booth
Sujiyu Onsen (Kokonoe Town, Kusu District, Oita Prefecture)
Sujiyu Onsen in Kokonoe Town is a historic hot spring retreat with a history of about 1,000 years. It offers a variety of bathing experience, including its famous utase-yu waterfall-style bath, water that feels gentle on the skin, and baths that warm the body to its core.
Located on a highland at an elevation of about 1,000 meters, this hot spring area is known for its clear air, beautiful seasonal scenery, and the quiet charm of its traditional hot spring streets. It is a place where you can relax both body and mind and enjoy a refined onsen experience during your journey.
Exterior of the Utase Public Bath
Inside the Utase Public Bath
Streets of Sujiyu Onsen
Foot Bath Area
Nagayu Onsen (Taketa City, Oita Prefecture)
Renowned as one of the world’s leading carbonated* hot springs, Nagayu Onsen is a mountain hot spring area centered around Gozenyu, a hot spring culture museum and bathhouse whose origins trace back to the Edo period, when it was developed by the lord of the Bungo-Oka domain. Small and medium-sized inns and day-use hot spring facilities are clustered within walking distance.
The area has also been influenced in recent years by cultural exchanges with Germany, a world leader in therapeutic hot spring bathing. With its unique landscape, where the charm of a traditional healing hot spring town blends with modern architecture, Nagayu Onsen is beloved as a soothing retreat. Here, you can slowly enjoy a famous hot spring that is known for being good both for bathing and for drinking.
* Carbonated spring water is a type of hot spring that contains a high level of carbon dioxide gas. Long known as a beauty bath for its skin-friendly qualities, it has recently attracted great attention for its potential to help lower high blood pressure, reduce spikes in blood sugar levels, and promote recovery from fatigue.
Ganiyu Bath
Gozenyu Bath
Kua Park Nagayu
Kua Park Nagayu
Swimwear Area (Walking Bath)
Yunohira Onsen (Yufuin Town, Yufu City, Oita Prefecture)
Yunohira Onsen is a historic hot spring village said to have been established around 800 years ago during the Kamakura period. Its name also appears in Bungo no Kuni Shi, a record written during the Edo period, showing that it was already a well-known hot spring destination at that time.
During the Edo period, most people who visited hot springs for therapeutic stays were limited to wealthy individuals and members of the samurai class. However, from the Taisho era through the early Showa period, Yunohira Onsen developed into a popular hot spring retreat and entertainment district, becoming widely known throughout Japan and establishing itself as a prominent destination of its time.
Located farther toward Aso-Kuju National Park from the lively Yufuin Basin, the hot spring village is surrounded by abundant natural beauty. Its streets are lined with stone-paved slopes that date back approximately 300 years, and today, 18 traditional Japanese inns stand along the streets.
Around 450 red lanterns are installed throughout the hot spring village, creating one of Oita’s most distinctive nighttime scenes. Strolling along the streets in a yukata and traditional geta sandals, visitors can experience a magical landscape that seems to transport them back in time.
Spend your time at Yunohira Onsen surrounded by the timeless scenery of old Japan, enjoying a moment that feels like a journey through history.
In recent years, a project has also been launched to place artworks throughout this unique townscape, adding new attractions while preserving the traditional charm and atmosphere of the area.
Loved by literary figures such as children’s song writer Noguchi Ujo and haiku poet Taneda Santoka, Yunohira Onsen is a charming and atmospheric mountain hot spring destination. It is an ideal place for those who wish to forget the passage of time and enjoy a slow, peaceful stay surrounded by nature.
The Yunohira Onsen booth will offer an onsen pass, an original hand towel, wild herb tea, and a revival CD of traditional Yunohira folk songs, newly recorded with an invited Okinawan folk singer. Visitors can also receive novelty items such as original stickers and postcards.
Public Bathhouse
“Gin-no-Yu”
