Romantic Hotels in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan

My family had a wonderful stay at this hotel. It is conveniently located on the upper floors of AMU Plaza, right next to Kumamoto Station, with a dedicated elevator on the ground floor that takes you directly to the lobby. The rooms are clean and comfortable, and the staff are consistently friendly and polite. The only minor downside is that the breakfast selection is a little limited. That said, the hotel’s excellent location more than makes up for it, as there are plenty of cafés and restaurants just steps away in and around AMU Plaza.

## Fumoto Ryokan, Kurokawa Onsen - A Northern Kyushu Trip From Yufuin to Kurokawa Onsen, there are three daily bus services: 9:00 AM, 1:50 PM, and 2:50 PM. A quick note on bus reservations: While online booking is available, it requires credit card payment beforehand, which isn't ideal. We don't recommend it unless it's peak season and you need to secure a seat days in advance. Our suggested method is to ask the front desk at your accommodation (like Yufuin Sansuikan, where we stayed) to call and book for you upon check-in. This typically secures a seat for the next day, and it's usually successful unless it's peak season. Phone reservations don't require pre-payment; you can simply pay on the bus. The contact number is 0570-09-3533 (9:00 AM - 5:00 PM). The bus ride takes a little over 1.5 hours and costs 2200 JPY. (Refer to Photo 1 for the timetable.) The bus also makes a brief stop at a rest area just before reaching Kurokawa Onsen. The ryokan provides a pick-up service from the bus stop. If you're unable to contact them beforehand, don't worry – it's an easy 10-minute walk to the ryokan from the bus stop using Google Maps. It's not far, and you can enjoy the charming onsen town scenery on your way. The ryokan's main entrance is located directly opposite a cream puff shop, which coincidentally shares the same name, 'Fumoto.' Be aware that the entrance can be easily missed, as many tourists often gather in front of the cream puff shop, potentially blocking the view of the ryokan's discreet, Japanese-only sign (see Photo 4). There's no need to use the ryokan's public baths; the women's outdoor section, in particular, tends to be quite cold. Instead, the ryokan boasts a large number of private baths, ranging from small to large. As the ryokan has a limited number of rooms and is generally not overcrowded, you'll almost always find an available private onsen. A highlight is the unique 'Tachi-yu' (standing bath), where you can literally stand in water up to 1.6 meters deep. Kurokawa Onsen is a very compact town, so booking a plan that includes both breakfast and dinner is highly recommended; otherwise, finding dining options can be challenging. The meals provided by the ryokan were excellent and definitely worth trying. Although we were a group of three, there wasn't a specific room option for that number of guests, so we regrettably ended up paying for an 'extra person's fee'. Our rooms were quite spacious. We stayed in rooms named 'Taka' (Hawk) and 'Kiri' (Mist), which offered views of the mountains and a pleasant stream flowing right outside the window. The ryokan staff were all young and extremely friendly, with some even being Chinese speakers. Overall, if you're looking to experience the charm of a traditional onsen town, Fumoto Ryokan is an excellent choice.

Convenient location! Need to walk about 5-10mins from the tram stop but it’s very bearable in Oct as the weather was cooling. Room is not very big - standard Japanese hotel but it has everything needed. Microwave is shared at the hotel lobby and they have tea and snacks at level 2 of the hotel.

This hotel completely eliminated my travel anxiety! The airport shuttle bus drops you off right downstairs, so I didn't have to lug my luggage an extra step – super convenient for tourists. There's a shopping mall right below, so I could grab food whenever I wanted, and a supermarket made it easy to pick up snacks and drinks for the room. Kumamoto Castle and Suizenji Jojuen Garden are both within walking distance, and right across the street is the Shimotori Shopping Street, a central arcade district in Kumamoto with pharmacies, clothing stores, and dessert shops galore. It was so easy and pleasant to shop and eat, and perfect for finding souvenirs. The hotel room was spacious and clean, and the bedding was soft and comfortable, guaranteeing a good night's sleep after a long day. The breakfast had a great variety of both Japanese and Western options, with fresh ingredients and delicious flavors. Overall, it's excellent value for money. I'll definitely choose this hotel again next time I'm in Kumamoto!

The tatami room is definitely worth experiencing. While the room itself has a toilet, there are no private showers, as guests primarily use the hotel's excellent communal onsen facilities. These fantastic facilities boast numerous hot spring pools, opening as early as 6 AM. Although the room rate might seem a bit steep, the overall experience and amenities provide incredible value. You get to enjoy spacious lawns, beautiful mountain views, two generous buffet meals daily (breakfast and dinner), and, of course, unlimited access to the rejuvenating hot springs. All things considered, it's genuinely great value for money.

Three of us stayed at Sanwan for 2600 yuan, and it was pure enjoyment! 😎 **Facilities**: The facilities are very new. We took turns sleeping on the sofa bed, and it was surprisingly comfortable – no back pain! The room was also spacious enough for three suitcases to be fully open, which was perfectly acceptable. **Cleanliness**: It was extremely clean. A big thank you to the housekeeping staff; even though we ate a lot every day, everything was spotless the next morning. **Environment**: The location is excellent, very close to Shangxia Tong. There are two convenience stores downstairs, and a tram stop not far away. It's also conveniently located near all the attractions. Highly recommend!