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

As the first stop of my birthday trip, I chose Aso. Having previously worked as a hotel management professional, I had high expectations for the hotel’s facilities and services. My stay at Kakuman Hotel, along with my traveling companions, was thoroughly enjoyable—from check-in to the overall amenities, everything exceeded our satisfaction. The staff we encountered were exceptionally friendly, whether at the front desk or in the restaurant. Additionally, experiencing hot springs for the first time left us feeling deeply relaxed. Thank you to Kakuman Hotel for adding color to my journey.🙏🏼 While every aspect was highly satisfying, there was a minor shortcoming: the majority of diners in the restaurant were Korean tourists. On my second night, a small incident occurred during dinner. The server assigned me a seat where only tableware and a departure-time notice were placed. After I retrieved my food, I found three Korean guests (two elderly individuals and a middle-aged man) preparing to sit there. I was confused whether I had taken the wrong seat or if there was another reason, so I asked the guests. Unexpectedly, the man loudly called over the female server who had arranged the seat and sharply questioned her in Japanese. The server later found me the correct seat, which was at the table adjacent to the three guests. I felt deeply sorry for the female server being unjustly scolded, and I also did not understand why the Korean man needed to accuse her in such a loud tone—I would have been happy to apologize for my misunderstanding. Regarding the above incident, I would like to offer a suggestion: the tables in the restaurant are each equipped with a bucket of tableware and wet wipes, but there are no numbers or markers to identify the assigned seats. Guests can only rely on placing their own items or memory to remember their seats. I believe I am not the only one who has encountered a similar issue, and the hotel may consider adding markers to each table to make it easier for guests to recognize their assigned seats.

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.

Excellent! The room was spacious and conveniently located near Kumamoto Station. The lobby design was beautiful, and the room had a nice view from the window. The hotel also has an observation deck. The hot spring was great, and the laundry room was very convenient. My only minor regrets were that the room window couldn't be opened and the hot spring was slightly less impressive than Dormy Inn's. Overall, it was still very good and I'm very satisfied.

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!

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!