4-Starhotels in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan

Fantastic new hotel! We took a 37sm corner room, large for japan standard Breakfast soread is good and delicious. Hotel beds are also the best so.far (for tjis 10days trup Kyushu) location is ver central, food plentiful..only issue we had is carpark (due to the central location and probably due to Golden Week,), no parking anywhere near the hotel and ended up waiting for more than an hr to park at Times parking which cost 3600 yen till next day. Overall, we highly recommend this hote.l

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.

The hotel's front desk service was excellent. They quickly and helpfully resolved a bug with the parking lot access, which was very thoughtful. The room was small, a typical Japanese-style room. The location is quite good. The image shows the information for the hotel's partner parking lot.

I finally realized my long-held dream of staying here, having booked the room over half a year in advance. Its location is indeed quite remote, nestled deep in the mountains. Upon arrival, a car picked us up directly from the hot spring bus stop, and the elderly driver was incredibly warm and friendly! The heavy rain on the day of our visit truly enhanced the ambiance. The room itself was incredibly spacious. Surprisingly, even in June and with the rain, it got so cold at night that we needed to turn on the air conditioning. The cuisine was also quite sophisticated. Dinner was exquisite, though the portions were a bit on the small side, leaving me not quite full... The private six-foot outdoor bath was absolutely unforgettable – a definite must-book! If I had to nitpick, for a price tag exceeding 3000 (currency unspecified), I expected the service to be a touch more enthusiastic and friendly. I couldn't shake the feeling of being treated slightly differently (compared to what I observed for local Japanese guests and Westerners). Having stayed at no fewer than 10-20 hot spring ryokans in this price range, I'd say claims of 'superb service' are a bit of an overstatement. Overall, I'd give it an 80/100, and despite the minor points, I still highly recommend it!

Facilities: The hotel, built in 2021, is quite new. I stayed on the fifth floor, and they have ice makers and water dispensers, so it's fine even if your room doesn't come with complimentary water. This is also the only hotel where you can add an extra bed and the room is 40 square meters. They even allow luggage storage until my next stay. I've checked with all the surrounding five-star hotels, and they either have small rooms, expensive rooms, don't allow extra beds, or can't store luggage for an extended period. This is truly a major highlight! Hygiene: I have to complain about the hygiene. In room 507, the bathroom sink had no cover, and there were many tiny flying insects inside. I sprayed mosquito repellent here, and it was only when I saw many dead insects at the opening that I realized the issue. My son even got bitten and had bumps on his chest. Environment: It's super convenient, only 150 meters from Hakata Chikushi-guchi. Yodobashi Camera is right across the street, so you can shop 'til you drop! There are also many convenience stores nearby. Service: The breakfast selection isn't huge, but it's fine for a one-day stay. I highly recommend the breakfast coffee – it's very rich.

Conveniently Located, but Wouldn't Return Due to Room ConditionOn the bright side, the hotel has an excellent location. It was easy to locate and surrounded by various attractions and convenience stores. The staff at the front desk was polite and accommodating as well. However, the room condition was disappointing. Right after checking in, I noticed a severe musty smell reminiscent of damp, old laundry. Thankfully, the friendly staff provided a handle to open the window, so I aired out the room while eating dinner outside. However, the room was extremely small.

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.

This hotel is really nice and conveniently located right on top of Sakura Machi mall, so there are plenty of food options and shops for shopping. Right across the street is a pedestrian street, which is great for walking around. It’s not too crowded, so the atmosphere is quite relaxed. There’s also a major bus stop right downstairs, which makes it super convenient—especially if you don’t have a car. If you’re traveling between cities, this is likely a main stop you’ll pass through. For those who drive, you can find parking nearby. The hotel may offer parking discounts at certain locations, but I’m not entirely sure which ones. The hotel itself is beautiful, modern, and smells really nice—feels new and well-maintained. Amenities are quite complete as well. The bed and pillows were just okay, slightly leaning towards the uncomfortable side. However, the bathroom is excellent, with a separate standing shower and a small bathtub. The room I got was also quite cute, with a small sofa area, which was a nice touch.

I had an enchanting two-night stay at this hotel, where the picturesque view of the river from my room added a serene touch to the experience. The included breakfast and dinner were nothing short of fantastic, offering a delightful journey through Japanese cuisine. The attentive service further elevated my stay. The onsen was a highlight, boasting a spacious interior and a tranquil outdoor area. The immersion in the calming waters was a rejuvenating experience, and the overall ambiance added a profound sense of relaxation to my stay. Highly recommend for those seeking a blend of natural beauty, exceptional food, and attentive service.