Kyushu, Japan - A Highland Onsen Hotel Overlooking Mount Aso: Senomoto Highland Hotel.

During a self-drive trip in Kyushu, we stayed at an onsen hotel called Senomoto Highland Hotel. Although it is within the area of Kurokawa Onsen, the hotel is situated on the more remote and desolate Senomoto Highland, offering a view of Mount Aso and a sense of vast, serene beauty that feels worlds apart. The resort-style grand entrance and the lobby with its floor-to-ceiling windows allow guests to gaze directly at the highland scenery. If you visit in April, you can even witness the spectacular sight of the evening 'burning mountain'! A standard double room including breakfast is priced at about 6,000 to 7,000 yen, which is not cheap. Also, it's not easily accessible without a car. However, unlike the hotels in the Kurokawa Onsen area, you can experience the wilderness of the highlands, which feels very un-Japanese. The hotel's facilities are quite new and the design is simple. There are two onsen bathhouses; one is indoors, where you can soak in the hot spring while looking out at the highland through the large windows. The other is an open-air onsen, which after passing through the outdoor garden, presents a steaming outdoor pool. Here, you can enjoy the cool breeze, the hot springs, and the view of Mount Aso, all while being surrounded by nature. At night, the sky is filled with stars, creating a beautiful scene. Senomoto Highland Hotel Address: 5644 Manganji, Minamioguni, Aso District, Kumamoto 869-2402 Japan