Hot Springs Hotels in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan

The photos I saw when I booked this hot spring ryokan online seemed like nothing, but when I came here it was two completely different views. The hot spring in the room is very comfortable, the room is very clean, the environment is very quiet. This time it was one stay and two meals, the food was delicious, you can see the attentiveness of this hot spring inn, each food is small and tastes good. The staff who checked us in was very attentive and explained very clearly, the service was very good. The attitude of the restaurant's staff is also 10% satisfactory. I want this hostel from Aso Volcano, definitely a good choice. 

It was actually pretty good, not as bad as some of the Google Maps reviews suggest! Our triple room was huge; we could easily open three suitcases and still had a sofa area to relax. The room was clean, even the AC vents in the bathroom were dust-free. All the toiletries were provided. They have a karaoke room, a common lounge for reading, a gym, a ping-pong table, a walking track, and massage chairs. After dinner, I even went to burn off some calories by playing ping-pong. There's an onsen with a public bath and six private onsen rooms, all free and available all night without booking! The front desk staff were polite and friendly, and they communicated well in English. Even though there were three tour buses full of Thai and Korean tourists, it wasn't chaotic at all. For dinner, the all-you-can-eat crab wasn't huge, but it certainly wasn't tiny and meatless. And there was a wide selection of free alcoholic drinks, so it's probably a drinker's paradise!

Pros- spacious villa, quality bedding and large private indoor onsen( see picture 13). We also like the public outdoor onsen in the sister ryokan nearby. There is a little cafe there you can buy drinks and coffee, run by an adorable old couple, very nice and polite. We spent a lot of time there just chilling and listening to the music. Cons- Living room: we were only able to book the western style villa as it’s a little last minute trip. The living room is basic, bland, with sofa, instead or tatami. Our room 512 is next to the car park. Parking lot in front of your main door is not very pleasant. Food : just soso. Nothing extraordinary. See picture. No horse sashimi, the presentation of the steak is really ordinary - disappointing. Perhaps because we had such an amazing meals in the previous ryokan this became a massive letdown. Dinner served in a large public dining room, lack of the privacy and intimacy ther ryokan provide ( we had private dining room in another ryokan 野之花during this trip). I got to see other couples but also feeling like we are being watched. Service- served by young people, not much attentiveness you would expect in traditional ryokan, lack of the warmth and ritual. Reception- 3 star at best. A basic room with uncomfortable chair while you wait to be checked in. We arrived around 2:30pm, and was told that check in can only start at 3pm, and please wait. So we sat at the hard chair and forced to watch the promotional video until 3pm. Conclusion - 3.5 star ryokan, not the most exciting or exclusive villa we have stayed. Maybe it would get better once the trees grow thicker and staff better trained. The sister Ryokan nearby has better feel of environment and feels more established.

Really nice place to stay in, exclusive experience, you don’t really need to do any onsen hoping if you stay here, one private onsen booking per day which means 2 booking for one night stay and you have got guest only public onsen which alternate each day. They were kind enough to accommodate our vegetarian diet even though they weren’t too happy about that because they had to change their whole menu, so I would suggest checking with them before making the booking. Overall, definitely worth it.

I was extremely satisfied with my stay in Kumamoto this time. Especially during the off-season, the value for money is outstanding. It's truly a hotel where it's hard to find any significant flaws. The location is almost perfect. It's right to the JR Kumamoto Station exit, so there's absolutely no stress even with luggage. The hotel is connected to AMU PLAZA Kumamoto, with a shopping mall downstairs, making dining and shopping incredibly convenient. There's also a tram station within 100 meters. Whether you're taking the Shinkansen to other cities or the tram to explore Kumamoto city, the transportation is extremely convenient. This location is especially comfortable for those with a lot of luggage or those using Kumamoto as a transfer point in Kyushu. I personally found the room rate during the off-season to be excellent value for money. For this location, facilities, and service level, it's definitely worth it. The hotel also has a public bath and a sauna. It's worth noting that the public bath is not a real natural hot spring, and its size is a bit small, so it might get crowded when there are many people. However, for a city hotel right next to a JR station, having this amenity at all is a huge plus. It's very relaxing to soak in it after a day of sightseeing. Breakfast is buffet-style, and I personally found the variety to be quite rich. In addition to conventional Japanese and Western breakfast items, you can also find some local Kumamoto and Kyushu specialties, so you won't be eating the exact same things every day even if you stay for a few days. Overall, I was quite satisfied. The service was particularly impressive this time. The front desk staff were polite and enthusiastic, to the point of being almost 'excessive.' They would greet me proactively every time I passed by, and they were very serious about helping with any issues, showing excellent service awareness. It wasn't the kind of mechanical politeness that comes from just following standard procedures. The room itself was also almost flawless. It was clean and comfortable overall, the facilities were relatively new, and the space was good for a Japanese city hotel. The only notable issue I found was actually a very minor detail: some windows only had Roman blinds, not blackout curtains, and the gaps between the curtains were a bit large, making it impossible to fully block out the light. When the sun came out in the morning, light would shine directly through the middle, which could easily wake up light sleepers or those sensitive to light. I suggest the hotel improve this detail in the future. Overall, it was a very satisfying hotel during my Kyushu trip. The location, transportation, shopping, room, service, public bath, and breakfast basically had no significant shortcomings. Especially during the off-season when prices are right, the value for money is excellent. I would definitely prioritize staying here again if I return to Kumamoto.

The whole experience was fantastic! The inn lives up to its name, surrounded by mountains and forests, with the sound of the river and the aroma of burning longan wood, taking the sensory experience to another level! Every service was incredibly attentive! Unfortunately, I couldn't eat much, but both dinner and breakfast were absolutely delicious! After a hot spring bath, you absolutely must try the Kurokawa milk and coffee milk! It was superb and so enjoyable! The only downside is that it's a bit far from town, but having the shuttle service is really great! I'll definitely visit again if I get the chance, and staying for a few nights would be even more enjoyable!

The location is a bit out of the way. From JR Aso Station, you can take a bus and get off at Uchimaki Station (about 20 minutes) and then walk for five minutes to get there. The surrounding environment of the hotel is very quiet, surrounded by countryside, the interior decoration is exquisite, and the rooms are very comfortable. There is a small courtyard landscape in the middle, which is very suitable for sitting on a chair and dazing. There is a family hot spring available for use. The hotel's meals are mostly Kumamoto's local cuisine, which is very suitable to my taste. The service attitude is very good. There is only one Nepali guy who can speak English, but the service attitude is really warm and impressive. All in all highly recommended!

It was raining when we arrived, so we skipped our planned itinerary and checked into the hotel early. Turns out, it was a smart decision! We got to quietly enjoy the hotel's facilities. The staff saw us parking and immediately came over to help with our luggage; we just handed them the car keys. We were able to go explore before check-in time. When it was time to enter our room, our luggage was already neatly placed inside. The hotel staff were incredibly professional, explaining all the onsen facilities, dinner, and breakfast arrangements. They even had staff who spoke English, so communication was never an issue. On the second day, it was pouring rain, and they still helped us with umbrellas and saw us off to the car. Because of the heavy rain and poor visibility, along with a narrow exit and oncoming traffic, a staff member proactively offered to switch with me and move the car to a more suitable spot. I'm very grateful for that. If I had one piece of feedback, it would be that the food taste might not suit everyone's palate. We ended up having some waste. I hope the hotel can create some dishes that appeal to a broader taste. Oh, and the dessert shop at the hotel entrance has delicious treats and good value for money. Highly recommend!

The hotel is obe of the biggest in the area. We were fetched by the hotel’s van bexause it was raining. But it is walkable from the bus stop. There is free coffee and snacks in the lobby area. And also free beer in the bar. The onsens are very big and clean. Both public and private ones are super nice and clean. The private onsen did not have towels so make sure to bring your own. Rooms are big and clean with the view of the creek or river. Staffs are nice and approachable

Tucked away deep in Kurokawa Onsen, a bit of a walk from the main hot spring street. This hotel only has eight rooms, all of which are private, detached suites, each with its own private onsen. I stayed in the Shion room, which was recommended by Doubao, and overall, I had a great experience, especially with the meals – they were truly exceptional. The only downside was that there were quite a few bugs in the summer, so I had to catch them myself at night.