Natural Hot Spring Higo no Yu Onyado Nono Kumamoto

It was really clean and great. The sauna and large public bath were also spotless, and they even offered ice cream after the sauna. The staff provided excellent service too. The location is perfect, close to both the castle and the arcade.

You have to store your shoes when checking into this hotel, which was fine. The bathhouse has long opening hours, from 3 PM to 10 AM, so you can even use it before heading out.

The location is super convenient, just a few steps from Shintori Shopping Arcade with tons of food options, and there's a Family Mart right downstairs. The hotel is very new, and the service is excellent. Though the room is small, it has everything you need. The late-night ramen, free popsicles, and Yakult are a big plus! It's a 10-minute taxi ride from Kumamoto Station, and you can walk to most major attractions. Highly recommended!

Overall, it was excellent. Upon entering the lobby, you're required to remove your shoes and place them in a shoe locker of your choice, which comes with a key. The staff are friendly; as soon as you walk in, they'll verify the names of guests checking in, which gives a good sense of security. They also help clean the wheels of your luggage so you can bring it into the shoeless areas of the building. The tatami mats in the room were very comfortable to walk on and extremely clean. However, I wouldn't recommend it for germaphobes because, in my opinion, their quick wipe of the luggage wheels isn't a thorough cleaning. The hallways on guest floors and elevator floors are carpeted, and it's clear they've seen a lot of luggage wheels, lol. Also, you can't wear slippers; only socks or bare feet are allowed inside the hotel. Well, aside from that cleaning concern, everything else was outstanding. The room was very spacious, and the hot springs and other public areas appeared to be very clean. If it's raining, you'll need an umbrella as soon as you leave the hotel and walk right for half a minute to reach the sheltered shopping street.

The hotel's location is excellent. It's about a 10-minute walk from the Kumamoto Bus Terminal after taking a bus from Fukuoka. The commercial district, Kumamoto tram, and Kumamoto Castle are all nearby and easily accessible on foot. The hygiene is impeccable; you even take off your shoes upon entering the lobby, storing them in shoe lockers on the first floor. The front desk service was superb. We stayed for three nights and changed rooms once, and they immediately allowed us to check in, without making us wait until 3 PM. When we looked lost outside, they promptly provided us with a map, suggestions, and directions. The deluxe twin room, a Japanese-style room, is quite spacious by Japanese standards and elegantly decorated. The washing area, shower, and toilet are three separate, independent spaces. The onsen (hot spring) on the 11th floor is also very clean, with a pleasant environment. Afterward, there are free ice pops and a relaxation area. Free ramen is served at 9:30 PM, which was also delicious. There's free coffee on the first floor, and the breakfast is abundant and exquisite, with a high 'eatability' factor. All in all, I hope to have the chance to stay here again.

Excellent and brand-new hotel. It's a Japanese-style establishment, so you'll need to remove your shoes at the entrance. The onsen (hot spring) is incredibly relaxing, and after your soak, you can enjoy ice cream, ramen, and drinks. The rooms are quite spacious for Japan! Highly recommended.