Myoken Ishiharaso

I stayed for one night from October 6th (Sun) in the "Moegi" room, a two-room Japanese-style room facing the river at the very back of the first floor of the main building. I think the features of this inn are "high-quality hot springs" and "delicious food". Myoken Onsen, which is one with the flow of the Tenmoku River, is a "hot spring-like hot spring" that has been used for hot spring treatments since ancient times, and I was able to enjoy the ultimate bathing time in the large bath with high-quality furnishings, the rustic open-air bath, and the private open-air bath. The food was impeccably excellent, and the masterful skills of the Michelin chef who served as head chef at a famous inn in Hanase, Kyoto, were so impressive that I was moved. I never thought I would be able to taste such delicious Kyoto kaiseki cuisine in Kagoshima. The setting and the service of the staff had a sense of unpretentious high quality, and they had the dignity of a high-class inn. It's no wonder that the luxury cruise train "Nanatsuboshi" uses it. If I had to say something negative, I felt that the amenities in the guest rooms and the quality of the coffee and ice cream in the post-bath lounge were cheap and out of place for this inn, but overall I thought this was a wonderful inn where you could experience the atmosphere unique to a hot spring inn and the high quality you can only expect from a luxury inn.

This was my third visit in three years since the COVID-19 pandemic ended. I stayed at HANEZU, which apparently has four new rooms. I was able to enjoy the high-quality carbonated spring water, which is replaced every hour, even in my room. I felt the hospitality of the Nepalese Vista-san, who speaks perfect Japanese and has a very pleasant stay. I thoroughly enjoyed the Chiran tea, the food, and the dishes that were served on each table. Thank you very much for your hospitality.

I stayed here for two nights. You can take a day trip or have lunch here, but I stayed overnight at Myoken Ishiharaso. There are many charms that you can't understand unless you stay overnight. Unfortunately, it rained on the first day, but that was also a good experience. I borrowed an umbrella and went to the outdoor bath, which created a nice atmosphere. This hot spring inn boasts its hot spring quality, with seven private hot springs, and you can enjoy the "raw hot spring" in the large bath and open-air bath. The large bath, "Tenkoden," has a type of spring quality where lumps of hot spring ingredients adhere to the edge of the bath, which helps to remove excess sebum from the skin. The mixed-gender open-air bath, "Mukunoki," has a clear stream called Tenkogawa River in front of it, and there are no handrails or fences. You can soak while listening to the sound of the stream. The hot spring at "Mukunoki" contains a large amount of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide gas seems to have the effect of expanding blood vessels and improving blood flow without putting strain on the heart. The open-air bath, called "Nanami no Yu," is best before dusk or in the morning when it is still light, rather than at night. I was able to enjoy a dynamic bath while watching the clear stream. The private bath, "Mutsumi no Yu," is best bathed at dusk, and the best time to take a bath is just before sunrise and just after sunset, when the sky turns a deep blue, creating a dramatic effect.

Last year, I stayed in a Japanese-Western style room at "Ishigura" on my first visit, and was very satisfied with both the hot spring and the food. This time, I stayed in a renovated room called "Odan". This room was also wonderful. All the rooms on the river side have good views, but I would say that "Odan" is the best of them all. The thatched roof houses of "Wasure-no-Sato Gajoen" on the opposite bank provide a beautiful backdrop. The open-air bath in the room is a free-flowing hot spring like Ishigura, but the inn has multiple hot springs, and since the hot springs at Ishigura and "Odan" are different, the ingredients are slightly different. The open-air bath at "Odan" is probably more carbonated, as you can clearly see bubbles constantly rising on the surface of the bath.