Lovely Stays at 15 Ryokan in the Famed Kurokawa Onsen - a Must for Adult Getaways
maria
``The whole city is one inn, the streets are corridors, and ryokan are guest rooms.'' Kurokawa onsen in Kumamoto, which was created with this concept in mind, is an irresistible place for onsen lovers, as just a short walk will take you to an elaborately designed open-air bath with completely different spring quality. An elegant Japanese-style ryokan that takes full advantage of the natural scenery stands in the center of the Tanohara River valley. Why not hang your bathing ticket around your neck and enjoy a leisurely tour of the hot springs? We would like to introduce you to some wonderful and recommended accommodations suitable for a relaxing onsen trip for adults.
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Kurokawa onsen in Kumamoto is onsen with about 30 ryokan lined up around the Tanohara River. The cityscape has a calm and uniform feel, making it the perfect atmosphere for adults to enjoy a relaxing trip. It is also known as a onsen area where you can enjoy touring the hot springs, as each inn has a different quality of hot spring water. The catchphrase is "The whole town is one inn, the streets are corridors, ryokan is the guest room." It's an exciting phrase, isn't it?
Kurokawa onsen has a system called ``bathing ticket''. If you have this ticket, you can choose 3 of the 27 open-air baths in Kurokawa onsen Town and take a bath at a discount. You can take the handprints home with you, so they can be great souvenirs from your trip. Depending on the store or ryokan, you can receive special benefits with your bathing ticket. Benefits range from drinks and soft-serve ice cream to discounts on products. Use it wisely and enjoy your onsen town tour even more!
Would you like to go to Kurokawa onsen, a charming and fun place to visit hot springs, to relieve your daily fatigue? In this article, we will introduce some of the many ryokan that are recommended for adult women's reward trips. We focused on the cleanliness and the space and services that lift your mood. Please use this as a reference when choosing your accommodation.
*The published content is information as of August 2023. When making a reservation, please check the latest information on the official website.
“Ryokan Sanga” is ryokan in the middle of a forest of konara oak trees. It is very quiet because it is located a little away from onsen town. Kingfishers and fireflies sometimes visit the Tanohara River, which can be seen from the main building. Surrounded by beautiful nature, you can truly relax.
The hot water is 100% free-flowing from the source, and you can enjoy two types of hot springs: Yakushi no Yu (simple sulfur spring) and Bihada no Yu (sodium chloride, bicarbonate, sulfate spring). There are 7 types of baths, so you can fully enjoy onsen. The women-only open-air bath is built along the river, so you can enjoy a relaxing bath while listening to the murmuring.
Official details
Kurokawa onsen Ryokan Sanga
Kumamoto /Aso, Kurokawa onsen / ryokan
- hotel fee
- JPY from 20,867
- address
- Kumamoto 6961-1, Manganji, Minami-Oguni-machi, Aso-gun
- access
- 50 minutes by bus from Aso Station
- Staying time
- 15:00(IN)〜 10:00(OUT)など
In addition to traditional Japanese-style rooms, ryokan Ichinoi has Japanese-Western style rooms that were renovated in 2017. The interior is moderately modern, so even those who are accustomed to Western-style rooms can stay comfortably.
onsen is a sulfur spring with a soft texture and a unique scent. The temperature is about 40-42°C, which is slightly lukewarm. Let's relax and relax and relieve the fatigue of the body. The ceiling of the indoor bath has exposed beams, so you can enjoy a onsen bath as if you were surrounded by trees.
Official details
Kurokawa onsen ryokan Ichinoi
Kumamoto /Aso, Kurokawa onsen / ryokan
- hotel fee
- JPY from 13,900
- address
- Kumamoto 6630-1 Manganji, Minami-Oguni Town, Aso-gun
- access
- About 1 hour by car from Hita Station or Aso Station, or by car from Hita IC
Yamamizuki is ryokan located at the foot of the Kuju mountain range, a little far from the Kurokawa onsen town. The open-air bath along the mountain stream is popular for its superb view. The old-fashioned Japanese atmosphere is also attractive, so you can forget the hustle and bustle of the city and relax.
Official details
Kurokawa onsen Yamamizuki
Kumamoto /Aso, Kurokawa onsen / ryokan
- hotel fee
- JPY from 14,100
- address
- Kumamoto 6392-2, Manganji, Minami-Oguni-machi, Aso-gun
- access
- About 70 minutes from Oita Expressway Hita IC on National Route 212 toward Kumamoto Aso / About 10 minutes by car from Kurokawa onsen bus stop (reservation required)
- Staying time
- 15:00(IN)〜 11:00(OUT)など
Shinmeikan is a long-established ryokan founded in 1902. It's ryokan that makes you feel nostalgic, as if you went back to your grandma's house in the countryside. Located in the center of Kurokawa onsen town, it is perfect as a base for walking. After changing into a yukata, let's head out into the city. Take a stroll through the cobblestone back alleys, browse the souvenir shops and coffee shops. Once you've cooled down, you can return to the inn and take a bath.
The famous “cave bath”, which is often featured in the media, is said to have been hand-dug by the owner over a period of 10 years! You can enjoy bathing as if you were an explorer. Immerse yourself in it while imagining that it is hand-dug. There are open-air baths where the color of the hot water sometimes looks like cobalt blue, and family baths where you can have a large bathtub all to yourself.
Dinner is served in an old-fashioned hearth. Dishes that use ingredients that have been loved by the region for a long time, such as river fish and wild vegetables, are attractive. Sitting around the warm sunken hearth will naturally spark conversation. You will realize that the time spent slowly meal with your loved ones is the greatest luxury.
Official details
Kurokawa Shinmeikan onsen
Kumamoto /Aso, Kurokawa onsen / ryokan
- hotel fee
- JPY from 19,800
- address
- Kumamoto 6608 Manganji, Minami-Oguni-machi, Aso-gun
- access
- From Tosu JCT to Oita Expressway. 1 hour from Hita IC to Kurokawa
Kurokawa Onsen onsen Okunoyu reaches of the Tanohara River. A quiet and comfortable ryokan where you can fully feel the murmuring of the river and nature. There are nine types of baths, including open-air baths and large public baths, scattered around the 2,000-tsubo site, and you can tour around the facility. You can enjoy the scenery of each season, such as deep green, autumn leaves, and snow, and you can enjoy a whole day by taking a walk or soaking in onsen.
You can choose from 26 rooms, each with a different style. The detached house "Chikurin Annex" along the mountain stream has a semi-open-air bath that can be opened and closed. It has a fully open door, so if you open it, it's an open-air bath, and if you close it, it's an indoor bath. You can enjoy it depending on the weather and mood at that time. The rooms are Japanese-style or Japanese-Western style rooms of 10 tatami mats + 8 tatami mats, so you can relax. As the name “Bamboo Forest Annex” suggests, the scenery surrounded by bamboo may create an extraordinary feeling.
All 9 types of baths are natural hot springs fed directly from the source. We recommend the river bath with a view of the waterfall. The Tanohara River flows below, and you can enjoy the sound of water. Cave baths are located inside caves, and the subtle brightness and echoing sound of water create a mystical atmosphere. There are also private baths available for private bathing. With some exceptions, you can use the hot springs 24 hours a day, so you can enjoy visiting the hot springs without worrying.
Official details
Kurokawa onsen Okunoyu
Kumamoto /Aso, Kurokawa onsen / ryokan
- hotel fee
- JPY from 22,000
- address
- Kumamoto 6567 Manganji, Minami-Oguni Town, Aso County
- access
- [Car] About 100 minutes from Kumamoto IC, about 60 minutes from Hita IC. About 70 minutes from Yufuin IC.
- Staying time
- 15:00(IN)〜 10:00(OUT)など
There are 11 rooms in total, and there are a variety of types, including Japanese-style rooms that look like an old folk house, and Japanese-Western rooms where you can see the starry sky from the ceiling windows. It's good to be able to choose according to your preference. The nature of Kurokawa spreads out outside the large windows, and you can enjoy a forest bath while staying in your room. You can soothe your daily fatigue by relaxing in the hot water on a chair by the window.
Official details
Kurokawa onsen headwater inn Hozantei (detached lodging)
Kumamoto /Aso, Kurokawa onsen / ryokan
- hotel fee
- JPY from 25,300
- address
- Kumamoto Minami-Oguni Town, Aso County Higashioku Kurokawa onsen 6346
- access
- About 50 minutes from Hita IC on the Oita Expressway Shuttle service available (conditions apply) *Shuttle bus to Kurokawa onsen bus stop (prior reservation required)
- Staying time
- 15:00(IN)〜 11:00(OUT)など
Thatched roofs and hearths, long wooden corridors with thick wooden beams. “Ikoi ryokan” is a onsen inn that retains the traditional scenery of Japan. onsen eggs boiled in onsen are sold in the hotel. While sitting by the sunken hearth, you can relax and eat onsen eggs. Spend a relaxing time while being healed by the flickering flames.
The hot water at Ikoi ryokan is free-flowing salt, sulfur, and hydrogen sulfide springs. You can enjoy a wide variety of 13 types of hot springs, including beauty baths and foot baths. You'll feel like you're visiting the hot springs while you're in the hotel, so you can spend a relaxing time here. "Tachiyu" is a unique style onsen with a depth of about 1.5m. Enjoy the sensation of floating in onsen while holding on to bamboo sticks.
Official details
Kurokawa onsen Ikoi ryokan
Kumamoto /Aso, Kurokawa onsen / ryokan
- hotel fee
- JPY from 15,400
- address
- Kumamoto Kawabata Street, Minamioguni Town, Aso District, onsen Prefecture
- access
- About 1 hour by car/bus from Aso Station on the JR Hohi Main Line
- Staying time
- 15:00(IN)〜 10:00(OUT)など
“Oyado no Shiyu” in Kurokawa onsen is ryokan where you can enjoy your stay as if you were living in the countryside. After passing through the gate, it looks like a small village. You can take a break in the courtyard with the sunken hearth, or enjoy a cup of tea in the tea room with the beautiful texture of old wood. There are open-air baths and private baths surrounded by nature.
Each of the 11 rooms has a different taste. This "Yamabuki" is a room with a Japanese-style room, an indoor bath made of cypress wood, and a loft (with a double bed). Although it has a dignified feel, the loft gives it the feel of a secret base. You'll want to explore the room. There are other rooms that will tickle your heart, such as ``Shion,'' which has a hearth, and ``Azami,'' which has a tea room and courtyard.
Official details
Kurokawa onsen Inn Noshiyu
Kumamoto /Aso, Kurokawa onsen / ryokan
- hotel fee
- JPY from 34,133
- address
- Kumamoto 6591-1 Manganji, Minami-Oguni Town, Aso-gun
- access
- Two and a half hours from Fukuoka Airport and one and a half hours from Kumamoto Airport by car. Bus service available (Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Oita) Free shuttle to the bus stop for those who come by bus
- Staying time
- 15:00(IN)〜 11:00(OUT)など
The room is a separate type, and the calm lighting and the warmth of the wood will calm your mind. All guest rooms have a semi-open-air bath with free-flowing onsen, and if you open the window, you can quickly transform it into an open-air bath. The outside air comes in and it's cool and feels good. On cold days, you can take a bath while keeping the air warm by closing the window. After bathing, let's cool down on the terrace.
Official details
Kurokawa Onsen Satonoyu onsen
Kumamoto /Aso, Kurokawa onsen / ryokan
- hotel fee
- JPY from 27,000
- address
- Kumamoto 6351-1 Manganji, Minami-Oguni Town, Aso-gun
- access
- ■ 60 minutes from Kyushu Odan Expressway Hita IC ■ 60 minutes from Yufuin IC ■ 70 minutes from Kumamoto Airport ■ 100 minutes from Oita Airport ■ 150 minutes from Fukuoka city
- Staying time
- 15:00(IN)〜 10:00(OUT)など
Yukyo no Hibiki Yusai is a rather large ryokan located in the center of the onsen town. The guest room is a Japanese-modern room that combines the comfort of a Japanese-style room with the convenience of a Western-style room. This “Akarikoji” has a spacious Japanese-style room and a bedroom, where you can relax freely. You will be healed by the refreshing scenery outside the window. For those who like to take a bath whenever they want, we recommend the guest room with an open-air bath.
There are various on-site facilities such as a karaoke room and bar, so you can enjoy your time to the fullest. You can spend a relaxing time in the stylish new library.
Official details
Sound of Kurokawa Onsen onsen Yusai
Kumamoto /Aso, Kurokawa onsen / ryokan
- hotel fee
- JPY from 20,900
- address
- Kumamoto 6554 Aza Kitakurokawa, Manganji, Minami-Oguni Town, Aso County
- access
- About 50 minutes by bus bound for Beppu from Aso Station on the JR Hohi Line Get off at Kurokawa onsen and walk 10 minutes
- Staying time
- 15:00(IN)〜 10:00(OUT)など
“Oyado Nonohana” is located in a quiet area a little away from Kurokawa onsen. The open-air bath "Ginnezu no Yu" with a view of the mountain stream, and the indoor bath "Hinoki no Yu" with cut stone baths and tub baths will heal your travel fatigue while feeling nature. ryokan with an old-fashioned interior makes you feel nostalgic and warm, and you feel somewhat relieved.
Each of the six separate rooms has an open-air bath. Perfect for couples and families who want to spend time without having to swim. ``Ishichiku'' is a two-story Japanese-Western style room with an open feel, including an atrium and terrace. The open-air bath is a large cut-stone bath where you can relax and enjoy the view of the garden. You are sure to have a special time unlike any other.
Dinner is served at the meal of a private room. It is a kaiseki cuisine that uses plenty of local ingredients, and you can choose from Kumamoto Wagyu beef "Higo beef sukiyaki" or Kumamoto brand pork "Rindo Pork Unkai Nabe". In addition, you can fully enjoy the taste of Aso, such as vegetables harvested in your own vegetable garden and seasonal wild vegetables. Breakfast is a Japanese set meal using seasonal vegetables to recharge your energy for the day.
Official details
Kurokawa onsen Oyado Nonohana
Kumamoto /Aso/ ryokan
- hotel fee
- JPY from 15,400
- address
- Kumamoto 6375-2 Manganji, Minami-Oguni Town, Aso-gun
- access
- About 5 minutes by car from the center of Kurokawa onsen. Shuttle service to the onsen town is available (free). Please enjoy Kurokawa's specialty "Yu Meguri".
- Staying time
- 15:00(IN)〜 10:00(OUT)など
“Yamabiko Ryokan” is located in a place surrounded by the nature of Kurokawa. Kurokawa onsen 's largest open-air bath and six private baths, each with its own personality, allow you to spend a quiet and relaxing time while feeling nature. There is also a bath and gauge facility exclusively for dogs, so you can travel with your dog.
There are Japanese-style rooms and Japanese-Western style rooms, both of which have tatami mats where you can stretch your legs and relax. In the rooms along the Tanohara River, the headwaters of the Chikugo River, the murmuring of the river is like background music. You can enjoy the nature of the four seasons from the window and forget the daily hustle and bustle. There is also a Japanese-style room with 10 tatami mats + 7.5 tatami mats, perfect for traveling with a large number of people.
Dinner is a multi-course dinner centered on local ingredients such as horse meat tataki and Kumamoto beef. The contents of the dishes change with the seasons, so you can find delicious seasonal flavors whenever you visit. The meal is a private room. Please enjoy a relaxing meal as a couple or couple without worrying about your surroundings.
Official details
Kurokawa onsen Yamabiko Ryokan
Kumamoto /Aso, Kurokawa onsen / ryokan
- hotel fee
- JPY from 20,975
- address
- Kumamoto 6704 Aza-Kurokawa, Manganji, Minami-Oguni-machi, Aso-gun
- access
- 40 minutes by car from JR Aso Station. 60 minutes by car from JR Hita Station. There are 4 round trip buses from Fukuoka, including the Kyushu crossing bus.
- Staying time
- 15:00(IN)〜 10:30(OUT)など
Kurokawaso is located in the mountains far from onsen town. Although ryokan has a Japanese-style exterior, the open-air lobby has a Western-style retro atmosphere. onsen is a milky green color, which is rare in Kurokawa onsen. There is an open-air bath and an indoor bath, both of which can be enjoyed by men and women on alternate days. In the open-air bath, the rock formations rise up in front of you, creating a truly spectacular view. Spend a luxurious time in nature.
The four detached rooms are equipped with a Japanese-style room and a hearth. The space where you can feel nostalgia and history will make you feel as if you have slipped back in time. It will be a special time to sit around the hearth and have a conversation. There is also a private indoor bath and an open-air bath, so you can enjoy onsen slowly while enjoying nature.
Dinner will be brought to your room and you can enjoy a Japanese kaiseki meal. From the appetizers, you can thoroughly enjoy the dishes that are carefully made with local blessings and seasonal ingredients. It is a dish that can be enjoyed not only with the taste but also with the beautiful appearance and tableware. It's a room, so you can relax with alcohol and wine. For breakfast, you can enjoy a Japanese-style meal with plenty of vegetables.
Official details
Kurokawa onsen Kurokawaso
Kumamoto /Aso, Kurokawa onsen / ryokan
- hotel fee
- JPY from 29,500
- address
- Kumamoto 6755-1, Manganji, Minami-Oguni-machi, Aso-gun
- access
- There is a direct bus to Kurokawa onsen from Fukuoka.There is a cross-Kyushu bus from Kumamoto.
- Staying time
- 15:00(IN)〜 11:00(OUT)など
"Miyama Sansou" is a new-style ryokan with separate lodging and dining, with 8 separate lodging buildings. The front desk is far from the room, but there is a special cart to pick you up, so you don't have to worry if you have a lot of luggage. Surrounded by greenery and rice fields, you can feel a sense of nostalgia. Forget the hustle and bustle of everyday life and have a peaceful time.
B type guest rooms have a sophisticated atmosphere with a nostalgic design. It consists of a Western-style or Japanese-style room, a bedroom, an indoor bath, and an open-air bath. In the open-air bath, you can enjoy onsen while looking at the star-filled sky. You should be able to spend a luxurious time in a completely private space.
Official details
Kurokawa onsen Miyama Sansou
Kumamoto /Aso/ ryokan
- hotel fee
- JPY from 32,050
- address
- Kumamoto 6393 Manganji, Minami-Oguni Town, Aso County
- access
- If you arrive by bus, there is a free shuttle from Kurokawa onsen bus stop (reservation required)
- Staying time
- 15:00(IN)〜 11:00(OUT)など
Gosho Gekkoju is a high-end ryokan located on a hill in Kurokawa onsen. There are only 8 guest rooms on the vast site of about 4500 tsubo. All are equipped with open-air baths and indoor baths with free-flowing hot springs. This is the perfect accommodation for a special trip with your loved ones.
The rooms are not only luxurious but also playful, which will arouse the curiosity of adults. There are various rooms such as a room with a footbath under the hearth, a room with a tea room, and a room with a cave-like bath. You can spend a luxurious time like no other.
At the top of the premises, there is a "open-air bath in the sky" with plenty of openness. The view from here is a superb view that blows away your fatigue and worries. You can reserve it for yourself if you make a reservation in advance, so how about enjoying the impressive scenery with your loved ones?
Official details
Kurokawa onsen Gosho Gekkoju
Kumamoto /Aso, Kurokawa onsen / ryokan
- hotel fee
- JPY from 83,975
- address
- Kumamoto 6777-2 Manganji, Minami-Oguni Town, Aso-gun
- access
- 2 hours by car from Fukuoka Airport using high speed
- Staying time
- 15:00(IN)〜 11:00(OUT)など
Kurokawa onsen slogan is "The whole town is one inn, the streets are corridors, ryokan are guest rooms." If you walk a little, you can enter a onsen onsen with a completely different spring quality. Each inn is full of individuality, and you really can't go wrong. Why not stay a little longer and enjoy Kurokawa onsen at your leisure?