Ryokan Yamakawa

Ryokan Sanga is a high-end hot spring inn in Kurokawa Onsen, Kumamoto Prefecture, located about 5 minutes by car from the Kurokawa Onsen town center. It offers a very quiet stay, surrounded by oak forest and the sound of a flowing river, where you can soak in the secluded “Yakushi no Yu” springs of Kurokawa. The grounds are spacious—about 3,000 tsubo—allowing you to relax at your own pace. Day-use bathing is also available. Rooms are traditional Japanese style. There are two sources and seven baths, including women-only and mixed-gender options. Private baths and footbaths are also available, letting you fully enjoy the onsen. Meals are authentic Japanese cuisine, and breakfast is also Japanese. Even after bathing morning, noon, and night, you may still want more; with a bathing pass, you could even visit other Kurokawa baths, so staying two nights can be a good idea. Since Ryokan Sanga is comparatively reasonably priced, considering a two-night stay at Kurokawa is feasible; “switching inns” (staying at different inns on different nights) is also recommended. Access: take a direct bus from Hakata Station, about 3 hours.