Hot Springs Hotels in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan

We stayed in a Deluxe Twin Room for 3 adults, which featured 2 single beds and 1 comfortable sofa bed. The hotel is directly adjacent to JR Kumamoto Station via a covered walkway, making transit incredibly easy. Since we drove, transporting our luggage was a breeze; the underground parking at the Amu Plaza mall features an elevator that goes directly up to the hotel lobby on the 9th floor. The hotel rooms themselves are located on the 10th to 12th floors. Having direct access to the Amu Plaza mall right below us was incredibly convenient for fashion shopping, dining, and picking up souvenirs. Parking costs a very reasonable ¥1,000 JPY per night for hotel guests. We also loved the bathroom design—the toilet and the shower/bathtub wet room are completely separated into independent rooms, allowing us to use the facilities simultaneously with total privacy. The washbasin is also conveniently placed in a separate dry vanity area outside. This hotel is highly recommended for its exceptional comfort, shopping, and convenience!

A round trip from Tenjin by bus costs 8000 yen and takes three hours! Remember to book your tickets in advance as there aren't many services. The old street in Kurokawa Onsen is very quaint and full of character! Most of the onsen ryokans are built along the creek. The ryokans are simple and clean! In the open-air onsen, you can listen to the gentle flow of the stream and feel that sense of tranquility. In the evening, during the illumination season, walking around in a yukata and geta (wooden clogs) is truly delightful! The kaiseki dinner featured exquisite and unique dishes, including local horse meat and wagyu beef! It was very filling, even for a woman! Please note that the restaurant intentionally doesn't have Wi-Fi; the owner hopes guests can quietly enjoy their meal without disturbance! I absolutely applaud this! The ryokan also offers a shuttle service to Kurokawa Onsen Station, which is a 5-minute drive away. Next time, I plan to stay in Kurokawa Onsen for two days to fully enjoy the peace and quiet!

I love almost everything about this ryokan - the facility, the room( it’s a massive suite with living room, Bedroom, private onsen and private bathroom etc. very spacious) the outdoor onsen, the private onsen… The highlight is the food! Absolutely amazing! It’s seasonal and high quality with horse sashimi,tuna toro, even the starter is delicate and delicious; and two types of local wagyu beef - melt in your mouth. We have been to many ryokans over the years, with some charging double the price than we paid here, and I would say this is one of our favourite. Our waiter was a lovely young man who can speak good Chinese and tell us about his recent trip to HK. We adore him. I used the massage chair a lot every time after the onsen bath. It’s heavenly. We went to another ryokan (深山山莊）afterwards in the same area and it can’t compare to this level of comfort or food quality. The only one slight con is that our room has no view as it’s surrounded by the walk path and buildings, and we have to keep it shut the whole time. Maybe because I booked last minute and can only have the last room. But the public outdoor onsen is looking into the stream, it’s beautiful. Another highlight is the massage chair in the suite.

The hotel's location is excellent. It's about a 10-minute walk from the Kumamoto Bus Terminal after taking a bus from Fukuoka. The commercial district, Kumamoto tram, and Kumamoto Castle are all nearby and easily accessible on foot. The hygiene is impeccable; you even take off your shoes upon entering the lobby, storing them in shoe lockers on the first floor. The front desk service was superb. We stayed for three nights and changed rooms once, and they immediately allowed us to check in, without making us wait until 3 PM. When we looked lost outside, they promptly provided us with a map, suggestions, and directions. The deluxe twin room, a Japanese-style room, is quite spacious by Japanese standards and elegantly decorated. The washing area, shower, and toilet are three separate, independent spaces. The onsen (hot spring) on the 11th floor is also very clean, with a pleasant environment. Afterward, there are free ice pops and a relaxation area. Free ramen is served at 9:30 PM, which was also delicious. There's free coffee on the first floor, and the breakfast is abundant and exquisite, with a high 'eatability' factor. All in all, I hope to have the chance to stay here again.

The location itself is practically impossible to get to without a car. Parking is conveniently provided, as it's exclusive to the ryokan. The surrounding atmosphere is very satisfying. However, you'll need to rent everything from towels to yukatas at the ryokan. Breakfast is simple. There's a nearby place offering free sulfur hell steaming, so you can just buy eggs and cook them yourself (50 yen). You can also make other sulfur-based dishes if you'd like! I was disappointed that there was only one hot spring, and the water wasn't particularly special. Overall... Spend more and go somewhere better.

Kurokawa onsen was the highlight of my trip to Kyushu. So I splurged on this accomodation. I chose a room with river view and it was the best decision. Love the stay so much. Staffs were lovely and helpful. They speak good English and Mandarin. Lobby was spacious. Plenty of spaces to chill and chat as a family. The onsens were abundance to choose from. Breakfast was awesome, so was dinner. We got the room with 2 beds and 2 futons. We all enjoyed our stay so much

My luggage was too heavy, so I asked the hotel shuttle to take me to the station. The Chinese-speaking woman at the front desk was very unhelpful. She kept saying it was very close and I could walk, and then that there was no driver. She made me wait, only to tell me again that it was too close and they wouldn't take me. Haha, so I was dragging two suitcases out the door myself when a Japanese staff member ran out and said they could take me after all. Really left a bad impression, especially that Chinese-speaking woman at the front desk. Avoid this place.

Overall, a fantastic stay! I really appreciated the complimentary drinks and the spacious bathtub in the room. The service was excellent, and I'll definitely be returning for another visit. My only minor critique is that the location isn't the most convenient, but despite that, I found the overall experience to be very satisfactory.

This is definitely a fabulous and fantastic experience living in a Ryokan, and this Ryokan is also reputable among local people, which means it is highly recognized by Hitoyoshi residents. Some local residents also spend their time in this Ryokan as a relaxing journey. I ordered the room with breakfast served, and it looked so amazing and delicate. I hope to visit here again in the near future if there will be any chances. I absolutely love this little town.

From the hotel entrance, the friendly guidance, the room was spacious and clean, the amenities were good, and the bathroom and bathtub were separate, so I was able to sleep without being disturbed, which was great. Also, the hot spring water was really good, and the breakfast was also really good. I think I will visit again next time. 😊