Oyado no Shiyu

Oyado Noshiyu is a hot spring ryokan in Kurokawa Onsen, Kumamoto Prefecture, designed to incorporate nature and blend with it. The inn has 11 rooms, each with a completely different style—options include rooms with open-air baths or indoor baths, rooms with lofts, treehouse-like rooms, Japanese-style rooms, and Western-style rooms, so you can choose based on preference. Located in the center of Kurokawa Onsen, it’s ideal for strolling the town and doing an onsen “bath-hopping” tour. The ryokan itself also offers plenty of bathing: a large open-air bath and four private baths allow you to enjoy a full hot-spring circuit just within the property. Meals are Japanese creative kaiseki cuisine using seasonal ingredients, and breakfast is also Japanese—luxurious dining from morning. A café inside offers drinks and light meals such as pizza. There is also a self-serve bar where you can pour your own drinks while enjoying carefully selected audio. If you’re planning two nights in Kurokawa Onsen, choosing Oyado Noshiyu for the first night is recommended; for the second night, staying somewhere cheaper and focusing on bath-hopping can be a good strategy. Access: about 3 hours by direct bus from Fukuoka to Kurokawa.