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. 

Room: decent bunk bed. comes with lockable storage underneath, a shelf, a rack, a hanger, a light and some plug sockets. you have to make the bed yourself, and there is not a privacy curtain. the dorm room doesn't have a door, just curtains which means you can hear noises from other dorms, people chatting in the communal area downstairs, people on the phone on private rooms etc.. Bathroom: a few sinks showers and toilets so you should be able to find an available one. comes with shampoo, conditioner, body wash. since the bunk beds don't have privacy curtains and you therefore need the shower cubicle to get changed, moisturised etc. it would be useful to have a tub/basket in there rather than just hooks. the showers are a bit annoying, they're the type that you have to keep pressing to restart the water flow. this is quite annoying when trying to wash long hair. the temperature can also fluctuate as the water flow changes. the hairdryers are also a bit weak for long hair. Security: pass to get into the hostel. lockable storage space under bed. Amenities: kitchen area with stoves, microwaves, pans etc. laundry machines (400 for wash, 100 for 15min drying). books and area guides. onsen coupon. Location: quick walk to station and convenience store. Other: got to bare in mind the cost, so although there are some criticisms here, it is definitely good value for money

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 honestly do not know where to start, I booked the hotel without really knowing much about Kumamoto Prefecture. After arriving in Kumamoto City and then realising Ueki Onsen is another 40 minute bus ride I was thinking oh dear where am I staying. After arriving at the hotel I was greeted by the manager of the hotel who showed me to my room and gave me a tour of the facilities. Once settled in I realised there isn't great public transport around and I primarily wanted to see Beppu and Yufuin during my stay, I enquired with the manager on where I might be able to rent a car, with little to no Japanese language under my belt he took it upon himself to reserve a vehicle for me and offered to drive me himself to collect it. He then also said he would take me back to return it a few days later. After my trips to Beppu and Yufui village (Not to be missed) and not to miss the outstanding and beautiful surroundings in Uekimachi and the Aso region. The manager and I set off to return my hire car, on the way back he took me to Kikuchi shrine to pray and also gifted me coffee and cake. They also accommodated me with use of the on site onsen (amazing) after hours as I'm heavily tattooed. I feel truly grateful to have found this hidden gem of rural Japan and if you are thinking of traveling this great country I emplore you to go off the beaten path. I experienced untold kindness during my stay and have memories of a life time. Thank you so much guys

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!

I arrived a little early, but I was happy to check in. It was a very smiling response from the pick-up to the guide to the room. The meal also used plenty of local ingredients, and it was especially delicious that the vegetables picked at the home farm were impressed. The staff seemed to be foreign, but I thought Japanese was good and very smiling and wonderful.

The hotel is quite new, and the room is spacious with a separate wet and dry area in the bathroom. We had no problem opening two 28-inch suitcases. It's right next to the JR station, just a 1-minute walk via a covered walkway, so bad weather isn't an issue. Being connected to a mall makes dining and shopping very convenient. The breakfast, however, was just average with limited choices. You'd find more and better options at the downstairs coffee shop or inside the JR station itself, and they're not expensive. The top floor only has an indoor hot spring, no outdoor one. The service was excellent, and the lobby is grand and bright with floor-to-ceiling windows, which was very pleasant to look at.

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!