Hotels with Breakfast in Aso District

"The hotel is obe of the biggest in the area. We were fetched by the hotel’s van bexause it was raining. But it is walkable from the bus stop. There is free coffee and snacks in the lobby area. And also free beer in the bar. The onsens are very big and clean. Both public and private ones are super nice and clean. The private onsen did not have towels so make sure to bring your own. Rooms are big and clean with the view of the creek or river. Staffs are nice and approachable"

"Pros- spacious villa, quality bedding and large private indoor onsen( see picture 13). We also like the public outdoor onsen in the sister ryokan nearby. There is a little cafe there you can buy drinks and coffee, run by an adorable old couple, very nice and polite. We spent a lot of time there just chilling and listening to the music. Cons- Living room: we were only able to book the western style villa as it’s a little last minute trip. The living room is basic, bland, with sofa, instead or tatami. Our room 512 is next to the car park. Parking lot in front of your main door is not very pleasant. Food : just soso. Nothing extraordinary. See picture. No horse sashimi, the presentation of the steak is really ordinary - disappointing. Perhaps because we had such an amazing meals in the previous ryokan this became a massive letdown. Dinner served in a large public dining room, lack of the privacy and intimacy ther ryokan provide ( we had private dining room in another ryokan 野之花during this trip). I got to see other couples but also feeling like we are being watched. Service- served by young people, not much attentiveness you would expect in traditional ryokan, lack of the warmth and ritual. Reception- 3 star at best. A basic room with uncomfortable chair while you wait to be checked in. We arrived around 2:30pm, and was told that check in can only start at 3pm, and please wait. So we sat at the hard chair and forced to watch the promotional video until 3pm. Conclusion - 3.5 star ryokan, not the most exciting or exclusive villa we have stayed. Maybe it would get better once the trees grow thicker and staff better trained. The sister Ryokan nearby has better feel of environment and feels more established."

"The hotel is conveniently located near a bus stop. The rooms are spacious and come with a private toilet and sink. Guests are provided with yukata, socks, toothbrushes, and combs, and even instant noodles await them in their rooms. The hotel also features communal baths, separated for men and women. In front of the building, there's a hot foot bath. Just a five-minute walk away is the main building, where guests of this hotel can access another public bath. On the first floor, there's a hot water dispenser, tea, and coffee available. We were allowed to leave our luggage before check-in. The only downside is the lack of an elevator; it can be tough to climb the steep stairs with heavy suitcases."

"The hotel room has a great view, which makes me feel really relaxed. The hot spring is open until 11:00 p.m., which is perfect for unwinding. The only downside is that there’s no bathroom in the room, so you’ll have to use the public bath. If you can’t make it to the hot spring at night, there won’t be any other place to take a dip, so that’s a bit of a bummer. On the bright side, there’s a golf course right next to the hotel with a beautiful environment. Lots of locals and tourists come to play golf there. The room is also really big and comfortable, so you’ll feel like you’re sleeping in the sky."

"Fantastic atmosphere! The hotel is very close to the main attractions in Kurokawa Onsen. The rooms themselves are quite spacious and come with air conditioning (heater). When we realized we didn't have a 100V adapter, the staff quickly found us a charging station with USB output. The hotel has 6 private onsen rooms available on a first-come, first-served basis. There's a separate app on the TV to track their availability. In mid-March, there was enough availability for everyone. But if you don't want to wait, you can always go to the shared men's/women's onsen. I really liked that you're not allowed to wear shoes inside the ryokan (the residential area); you have to leave them until check-out and receive slippers to wear around the premises. Oh, and I almost forgot – there's a lady at the front desk who speaks excellent English, big thanks to her for explaining the main rules!"

"This has to be the worst hotel I've stayed at in Japan that costs over 2000 yen a night. Pros: 1. Warm and friendly service. 2. Chinese-speaking staff available. 3. Shuttle service arrangements were very smooth. Cons: 1. Appalling cleanliness. There were cockroaches in the room, a thick layer of dust on the windowsill, and the air conditioning unit was completely filled with spiderwebs. 2. Small, unappetizing food portions with very mediocre ingredients. Even two people with small appetites couldn't get full. 3. The environment was severely lacking. The courtyard was completely neglected and messy. I'd wanted to visit Kurokawa Onsen since 2018, after seeing many heavily filtered vlogs from bloggers. However, this place is genuinely just ordinary. There are countless other onsen towns that are far superior. Honestly, I had no interest in taking any photos, so I'll just share a few pictures of dinner. This was essentially the entire meal, with the main course being an extremely small serving."

"The room with excellent seed and elegant. Service very friendly. The bad thing was that there was no breakfast or dinner available even for money. On the other side of the river was fortunately a restaurant that got tonight food. Very good luck. The best sauna I've ever been to Japan."

"A cozy ryokan with fabulous view of the waterfall nearby! Fresh air within the area. Private onsen and yukata for choices available. Set breakfast are nice."

"My luggage was too heavy, so I asked the hotel shuttle to take me to the station. The Chinese-speaking woman at the front desk was very unhelpful. She kept saying it was very close and I could walk, and then that there was no driver. She made me wait, only to tell me again that it was too close and they wouldn't take me. Haha, so I was dragging two suitcases out the door myself when a Japanese staff member ran out and said they could take me after all. Really left a bad impression, especially that Chinese-speaking woman at the front desk. Avoid this place."

"I recently visited Kurokawa Onsen in Kumamoto and stayed one night at Yamamizuki Shinmeikan. Overall, it's a traditional Japanese ryokan suitable for those looking to relax in hot springs, but there are a few things to note. The location is its biggest advantage, right in the heart of the Kurokawa Onsen area. It's just a few minutes' walk to other ryokans and small shops, making it super convenient to use the 'onsen hopping pass' (Tegata) to try different baths nearby. Driving to Mount Aso or Aso JR Station takes about 40 minutes, and there's a free shuttle bus to the main gate. Although the road is narrow and winding, the scenery is beautiful and worth the trip. There are river views and forests nearby, and the air is fresh at night, giving a very tranquil feel. Cleanliness was average. The tatami-style room was spacious enough for luggage, but as it's an older establishment, there was a bit of dust in the corners. Although the bathroom was cleaned daily, water marks in the shower area weren't wiped dry, which made it feel a bit less comfortable during the stay. Fortunately, the bedding was soft and odorless, and towels were changed promptly. In terms of service, the staff were friendly. The front desk attendant helped with simple English and check-in was quick. There's also a 24-hour free coffee machine and vending machine, convenient for drinks late at night. The kaiseki dinner was fresh, featuring local vegetables and river fish, which was very satisfying. The Japanese-style set breakfast was simple but flavorful. However, the facilities were a bit disappointing. Although there are five hot spring baths, including a 30-meter-long cave bath and an open-air mixed bath, which were very therapeutic, some pools didn't have attached showering areas. You had to walk further to rinse off, which wasn't very convenient. The rooms don't have private bathrooms, relying entirely on communal ones. The TV and fridge are basic, and there's no Wi-Fi in the rooms. The older design of the floors felt a bit cramped. In conclusion, this ryokan focuses on hot springs and a traditional ambiance, suitable for budget travelers. But if you're looking for modern facilities, you might want to reconsider. Next time I visit Kurokawa, I'll try other newer establishments."