[Kyushu] Soothing seasonal beauty. Top 10 ryokan and hotels with Japanese gardens

Kyushu is an area with seven prefectures all facing the ocean, and is characterized by a warm climate. There are many spots that will inspire your travels, such as magnificent nature, onsen boasting the largest volume of water in Japan, abundant seafood and mountain delicacies, and ruins and historical sites. After enjoying your time sightseeing in Kyushu, why not try something different from the usual and rest at an inn with a Japanese garden?

Accommodations with Japanese gardens are relaxing spaces surrounded by greenery. Whether you're tired from traveling or the stresses of everyday life, gazing at the beauty of nature in each season is sure to help you unwind. In this article, we'll be introducing accommodations with Japanese gardens in the Kyushu area. Try finding a soothing space that will put your mind at ease.

Hotel Parens Onoya, located in Harazuru onsen in Fukuoka, is a long-established hot onsen inn that was founded over 130 years ago. The lush Japanese garden that spreads across the premises is designed to be open and refreshing. In spring, you can take a stroll while admiring the cherry blossoms. At night, the garden is lit up, creating a fantastic atmosphere.

There are two types of guest rooms: the Central Wing, which all face east, and the more affordable East Wing. You can see the Japanese garden even from the lower floors. The East Wing Japanese-style rooms are reasonably priced and spacious, ranging from 8 to 15 tatami mats. You can see the garden from the window, so you can enjoy the scenery that changes depending on the time of day, such as the greenery during the day or the illumination at night.

At this hotel, you can experience a tatami bath, the first of its kind in Kyushu. The photo shows the hotel's "Kawa no Yu" bath. The tatami is soft to the touch and non-slip, so you can sit directly on it. Tatami baths are also recommended for women who are concerned about their feet getting cold. After enjoying nature in the open-air garden bath, you might want to warm yourself up again in the indoor tatami bath.

Taisenkaku, located in Haratsuru onsen, is ryokan you can enjoy not only a Japanese garden, onsen, and a pool, but also watching cormorant fishing. The Japanese garden, the most tranquil place on the premises, has lights that brightly illuminate the ground, making it safe to stroll around even at night. You can also have fun trying to find the waterfall somewhere in the garden by listening to the sound of the water.

There is a building called "Kojin-an" that is a detached building built in the pure Japanese style of architecture, Sukiya-zukuri. There are three types of rooms, and the large windows offer a full view of the Japanese garden. The photo shows the "Sekka" room. Step out onto the wide veranda and relax, breathing in the natural air to your heart's content.

This large bath, with an atmosphere reminiscent of a lush tropical rainforest, is called the "Jungle Bath." There are six bathtubs, large and small. You can enjoy forest bathing while soaking in onsen. There are also private open-air baths and women-only onsen, so be sure to check them out too.

"Art Hotel Kokura New Tagawa" is a hotel with a calm atmosphere, even though it is located in the downtown area of Kokura. The 2300m2 pond garden was completed in 1889 and shows different expressions with each season. The stonework of the waterfall on the east side and the stonework of the real stone in front are said to have been done using rare techniques that are rarely seen elsewhere.

In the Japanese garden, there is a detached Japanese-style room that was built in harmony with the garden. It is called "Shogetsutei." There are also three guest rooms available for overnight stays. You can enjoy a Japanese kaiseki dinner while admiring the nearby garden. Be sure to take a look at the tasteful interior design as well.

At the lounge "Azalea," you can enjoy the seasonal scenery of the Japanese garden from the expansive windows. In addition to coffee and tea, there is also a wide selection of delicious sweets on the menu. Why not spend a relaxing and elegant moment admiring the nature while savoring some sweet treats?

As the name suggests, "Yanagawa feudal lord Tachibana ryokan Ryokan Ohana" is ryokan that was originally the residence of the Tachibana family, lords of Yanagawa. The pond-centered ornamental garden "Shotoen" on the premises features two islands and numerous rock islands, and in winter, about 500 wild ducks fly in to visit, creating a seasonal winter scene.

The 100-tatami "large hall" overlooking "Shotoen" is open at night only to guests staying at the hotel. Enjoy a drink and a chat in the fantastic scenery lit up by lanterns, and spend a precious moment.

There are a total of 20 guest rooms. You can enjoy a lush landscape from every room. The corner Japanese-Western style room faces both Shotoen Garden and the lawned East Garden, so if you want to enjoy the garden view to the fullest, we recommend the corner room. Stretch your legs out on the sofa by the window and lose track of time as you enjoy the scenery.

Saga Ureshino onsen (Ureshino Onsen) in Ureshino Taishouya has continued to offer the same hospitality since 1925 ryokan. The Japanese garden facing the detached guest rooms, combined with a grove of cedar trees, is filled with tranquility and serenity. onsen Spend your time as an adult in a luxurious space that makes you feel like you are not in the city at all.

This is the special detached room "Shuhotei." It's a separate building with its own garden, so it's truly your own space. You can relax indoors, or you can put on your geta and take a walk to soak up the fresh air with your whole body.

Ureshino onsen is one of Japan's top three hot springs for beautiful skin. This photo shows the large bath, Takinoyu. Through the windows that surround onsen, you can see a garden with a waterfall. Let your skin become silky smooth while admiring the natural scenery.

Oita The "Meien to Meisui no Yado Umeien (Plum Garden)" at onsen in Yufuin ryokan is surrounded by Yufuin's nature and offers wonderful views and clean air. The garden occupies approximately half of the 10,000 tsubo site. The grounds are planted with mountain camellias, Japanese apricots, cherry blossoms, narcissus, and maple trees, which are beautiful in every season. There is also a skunk cabbage marsh, the only one growing wild in Kyushu, and streams and paths where fireflies dance, allowing visitors to feel close to the great outdoors.

As you walk through the garden, a detached house comes into view. All rooms in this detached accommodation building are Japanese-Western style, and there are two types of rooms: those with and without an open-air bath. Look out the window and you'll see the great outdoors of Yufuin... Why not step out onto the veranda and enjoy some quiet time?

The large open-air bath "Tenshin no Daiyu" is a spacious rock bath where you can relax while looking out at the surrounding nature with Mt. Yufu right in front of you. The water from this onsen is said to have the effect of promoting skin metabolism. There are also semi-open-air rock baths and cypress baths, so you can enjoy different views from each one.

Nagasaki Azumaen, a gourmet inn overlooking a large oshidori-no-ike pond, is located in Unzen onsen (Unzen Onsen), ryokan, on the banks of a large oshidori-no-ike pond. The Japanese garden with the pond as a borrowed scenery* is like a Japanese painting at every moment. You will want to enjoy the changes not only with the seasons but also with time. The inn is also proud of its gastronomy using fresh ingredients from the Shimabara Peninsula.

*Shakkei...A view of a mountain or other scenery outside the garden that is used as a backdrop to form the garden.

This is a room called "Matsurika," which comes with an open-air bath that uses private hot spring water. The overall atmosphere is sharp and modern, but it is a Japanese-style room, not a Western-style room. From the open-air bath at the back, you can get a panoramic view of Oshidori Pond and the surrounding nature.

The large public bath has a large window, making it seem as if the bathtub is connected to the lake surface nearby. When the sun sets, the bathtub takes on a colored tint, creating a fantastical scene in which to bathe. There are also cypress baths and open-air baths, and each bath has a different temperature, so we recommend trying out different baths at different temperatures.

Arden Hotel Aso in Kumamoto is a hotel located in a natural area surrounded by the Aso mountains, forests, and lakes. The Japanese garden, which is about 33,000 square meters, makes use of the Aso outer rim (gairinzan) mountain as a backdrop. You can enjoy the lush garden from your room or terrace, or walk along the covered walkway.

All of the hotel's guest rooms face the Japanese garden. If you stay on the higher floors, you can get a good view of the Aso mountains. There are Japanese-style rooms, Western-style rooms, and Japanese-Western style rooms, so if you want to use a bed, choose a room other than the Japanese-style room. The magnificent view from the window may blow away all your worries...

This hotel is proud of its abundant natural onsen. onsen water is a cloudy green-white color, and 100% of the water flows directly from the source. Outside you can enjoy a refreshing bath surrounded by a garden and lake. We also recommend the Japanese garden-style open-air bath at the natural onsen center "Dondoko-yu" attached to the hotel.

Ibusuki Shusuien, located in Ibusuki onsen Kagoshima, is a onsen ryokan in the tranquil hot onsen town. The Japanese garden on the premises is a dry landscape garden. Gazing at the flow of sparkling white stones, you will find your mind calming before you know it... Enjoy a relaxing time with the matcha green tea and Japanese sweets provided as hospitality after arrival.

This guest room is a Japanese-Western style room called "Shusui." There is a stylish Western-style room with only a bed, and the rest of the room is Japanese-style. The indoor bath is also covered with tatami mats. From the veranda surrounding the Japanese-style room, you can see the dry landscape garden. It's very tasteful to bring a cushion out onto the veranda and look at the garden.

In addition to the open-air bath and large public bath, there is also a private bathing area. This is a Japanese-style "cypress" type. You can feel the warmth of the cypress bath while being blown by the breeze from the outside garden. It is also nice that there is a living room where you can relax after getting out of the bath. There is also a Western-style type called "Ao" where you can enjoy a bath with blue tiles.

"Sukinoyado Yakakutei established ryokan with a famous hot spring that was loved by Saigo Takamori, Sakamoto Ryoma, and others. Once you pass through the gate at the entrance, a tranquil, different world unfolds before you. At the center of the inn is a beautiful Japanese garden with moss. The best time to visit is during the rainy season, when the garden is soaked in rain and surrounded by deep, moist greenery. How about a supreme lodging experience with only the sound of rain echoing around you?

Yakakutei has five detached villas, each with its own unique style, and guests can stay in Japanese-style rooms built in the sukiya style. The photo shows one of these, Muni-an. This room, which stands out as being particularly unique, is designed in the style of a teahouse.

Hinatayama onsen, which springs up in this area, is a famous hot spring that was loved by such people as Saigo Takamori and Sakamoto Ryoma. The open-air bath is a rock bath, and you can enjoy the garden during the day and the starry sky at night. Please enjoy bathing to your heart's content.

Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Fukuoka is an ancient temple opened by Dengyo Daishi Saicho, the founder of the Tendai sect. The Honbo Garden on the temple grounds is a nationally designated scenic spot, and is said to have been created by Sesshu during the Muromachi period. It is an ornamental pond garden with Mt. Atago as a backdrop. The best time to visit is in the fall, when the Japanese maples turn color.

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Keishuen Garden in Saga is a 10,000m2 pond garden attached to the Yoko Museum of Art. It was designed by Nakane Kinsaku, who is also famous for designing the gardens at the Adachi Museum of Art in Shimane. The garden is impressive for its dynamic waterfall flowing through the stonework and the contrasting, soft atmosphere of the tea fields. In spring, weeping cherry blossoms and azaleas bloom, creating a gorgeous sight.

The "Suizenji Jojuen" in Kumamoto began with the "Suizenji Ochaya" built by Hosokawa Tadatoshi, the first lord of Higo Kumamoto Domain. From there, the garden continued to be cultivated and became what it is today. It is a nationally designated scenic daimyo garden*. It is said that the largest of the mountains represents Mt. Fuji, and the entire garden, such as the mounds, floating stones, lawns, and pines, represents the scenery of the 53rd order of the Tokaido. The lawn is blue, and it is recommended to visit from spring to autumn.

* Daimyo Garden... Gardens built by the daimyo of each clan during the Edo period

Japanese gardens change appearance with the seasons and time of day. It might be a good idea to stay in an inn and spend your time admiring the gardens. Why not regain your peace of mind and serenity on a trip that puts you in contact with nature?