Hotel Sun Hitoyoshi ★★★★

"We stayed in a deluxe twin room for a three-day, two-night trip to Hiyoshi. We were blessed with good weather, so the views of the sunrise and sunset, along with the Kuma River right in front of us, were amazing. The room was spacious, as you'd expect from a deluxe room, and we were able to relax very comfortably. The shower room also had a high ceiling, so it didn't feel closed in, making it comfortable to use. The front desk staff were also very kind and helpful. There was also a rental bicycle next to the hotel, which we made good use of. We would definitely like to visit again."

Hitoyoshi Onsen Nabeya ★★★

"Very satisfied Very comfortable and very friendly at the front desk Because the luggage 🧳 was left on the bus The lady at the front desk helped communicate for a long time and was always very patient. really good The room is also very good. The Japanese-style house is very comfortable. clean comfortable Bathroom wet and dry separation"

Hitoyoshi Onsen Ryokan Suiranrou ★★★

"Suiranrou is considered the flagship property of Hitoyoshi Onsen. Its hot spring actually marks the birthplace of the town’s onsen culture - the first spring source was discovered right on this site back in 1910. That discovery led the land’s owner to open an onsen ryokan, and the original bath, called Mikage-no-yu, still exists today. Guests can bathe in it in the gender-segregated communal area. Over time, Hitoyoshi has grown into a small onsen town with more than 50 spring sources and about 25 public bathhouses scattered throughout. For a high-end ryokan, Suiranrou is on the larger side, with 30 rooms. Despite its heritage, the building and furnishings are quite modern, which puzzled me at first. It turns out that the property was largely destroyed by flooding along the Kumagawa River - which it overlooks - and had to be rebuilt in 2021. I can’t say what it looked like before, but the reconstruction is clean and pleasant, if lacking a bit of character. There are some quality touches, though: a scenic outdoor terrace with a small water garden, a lounge with floor-to-ceiling glass panels facing the river, and excellent ikebana arrangements placed throughout the property. The onsen experience is undoubtedly the highlight. Suiranrou draws from three different onsen sources on-site, each with distinct spring qualities, and guests can sample all of them. The original Mikage-no-yu has the softest waters - famously gentle and known for their skin-beautifying properties. The baths are lined with Matsuyama granite quarried in Shikoku and transported here by train via Mojiko Port. Its uneven texture and retro ambiance evoke a strong sense of the past. Guests can also experience the two large communal baths: Suizan-no-yu for women and Suiga-no-yu for men, each equipped with a sauna. The Midori-no-yu facility includes two private baths, Kumo and Sora, both featuring moor spring water - a plant-derived type enriched by organic matter from ancient reeds deep underground. These private baths can be reserved for 1,500 yen per 50 minutes. Rooms without private onsen are the lower-tier option here. Since rates are quite reasonable across categories, I’d recommend choosing a room with its own bath if possible (specifically the Deluxe and Luxury rooms). We stayed in the top-category 86m² Luxury Japanese-Western Room, a junior suite with a free-flowing private onsen overlooking the Kumagawa River - the largest river in Kumamoto Prefecture. The room was spacious and had lovely views, though it wasn’t without flaws. The décor felt a bit on the cheap side, with faux wood paneling on the counters and plastic furniture disguised with wood trim. Even the towels were thin and not very absorbent; what’s worse, those provided in the communal and private rental baths were little more than hand towels. Dinner is served kaiseki-style at Dining Soho, though guests can choose Italian cuisine at Trattoria Verde, known for its pizzas and pastas prepared by a young in-house ch"

Ryokan Ayu No Sato ★★★★

"⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 I had a wonderful stay at Ayu no Sato in Hitoyoshi. The location along the Kuma River is beautiful, and the views from the room and public areas were incredibly relaxing. The ryokan combines traditional Japanese hospitality with modern comfort, creating a peaceful atmosphere from the moment I arrived. The room was clean, spacious, and well maintained. I especially enjoyed waking up to the river view and spending time in the onsen after a long day of exploring. The hot spring baths were clean, quiet, and very relaxing. The staff were warm, professional, and always willing to help. Even when there was a language barrier, they did their best to make guests feel comfortable. The breakfast and dinner were also excellent, with a good variety of local specialties and beautifully presented dishes. One of my favorite moments was sitting in the lounge area and enjoying the peaceful scenery of the Kuma River. It was the perfect place to unwind and experience the charm of Hitoyoshi. I would definitely stay here again and highly recommend Ayu no Sato to anyone looking for a relaxing ryokan experience in Kumamoto."

Hotel Hana-No-Shou ★★

"The hotel decoration for Christmas was superb & beautiful. Initially when we checked in, the passage way at level 2 had an unpleasant musty smell but a few hours later the smell was gone. I think the hotel should look into improving the ventilation & add some aromatic scent. The breakfast spread for 1320 yen was excellent. There were Japanese as well as Western food choices."

Hitoyoshi Onsen Shirasagiso ★★★★

"The private hot spring was nice, but there was no shower in the room. The breakfast was expensive and not tasty. I think even 1000 yen is too expensive for that breakfast. The salad in particular was not fresh. It was disappointing."

Hitoyoshi Onsen Oga No Yado ★★

"This hot spring inn is located in Hitoyoshi. It also offers day-trip bathing, which I did. It's also one of the 88 hot springs in Kyushu. It has a reduced-temperature, mall smell. There's also a sign calling it a "miracle hot spring." There are hot and moderate-temperature baths, and a drinking fountain. The bathing fee is 350 yen."

Hitoyoshi Ryokan ★★★

"Although it was a pity that I couldn't stay at the same Natsume's book, the experience was so good that I was a little overwhelmed. The receptionist didn't let us touch anything, not even our shoes, from the moment we entered. He used a translator to introduce the place to us all the way and helped us carry two suitcases for the two of us, which made us feel embarrassed (there is a flight of stairs on the way to the room). The food was delicious, the landlady chatted with each table and spoke very good English, and there were many Natsume-themed items at the entrance, which really touched me. The hot spring was very comfortable, and it was definitely worth it!"

kumagawaRaftingAgain ★★