Aso District Hotels with Parking

This place is simply gorgeous. The hotel is beautifully designed to give a real zen feeling. The room was spacious enough for a family, the bed was plush (they also had tatami for those interested) and they even offered Kose skincare products in the room. It had big sliding doors that offered its own Japanese garden and quality tea set to brew your own tea in the room. The breakfast was simple but wholesome (not a single fried food in sight) and offering fresh ingredients. The only drawbacks for me was 1) there were no shower in the room, so you had to use the public bathing area and 2) this ryokan is a fair bit away from Kurokawa Onsen so it is an inconvenient if you’re looking to do some onsen-hopping. Having your own car would be ideal. If you have the time, I would highly recommend staying at the Hanashoan to experience some relaxing time.

I finally realized my long-held dream of staying here, having booked the room over half a year in advance. Its location is indeed quite remote, nestled deep in the mountains. Upon arrival, a car picked us up directly from the hot spring bus stop, and the elderly driver was incredibly warm and friendly! The heavy rain on the day of our visit truly enhanced the ambiance. The room itself was incredibly spacious. Surprisingly, even in June and with the rain, it got so cold at night that we needed to turn on the air conditioning. The cuisine was also quite sophisticated. Dinner was exquisite, though the portions were a bit on the small side, leaving me not quite full... The private six-foot outdoor bath was absolutely unforgettable – a definite must-book! If I had to nitpick, for a price tag exceeding 3000 (currency unspecified), I expected the service to be a touch more enthusiastic and friendly. I couldn't shake the feeling of being treated slightly differently (compared to what I observed for local Japanese guests and Westerners). Having stayed at no fewer than 10-20 hot spring ryokans in this price range, I'd say claims of 'superb service' are a bit of an overstatement. Overall, I'd give it an 80/100, and despite the minor points, I still highly recommend it!

A round trip from Tenjin by bus costs 8000 yen and takes three hours! Remember to book your tickets in advance as there aren't many services. The old street in Kurokawa Onsen is very quaint and full of character! Most of the onsen ryokans are built along the creek. The ryokans are simple and clean! In the open-air onsen, you can listen to the gentle flow of the stream and feel that sense of tranquility. In the evening, during the illumination season, walking around in a yukata and geta (wooden clogs) is truly delightful! The kaiseki dinner featured exquisite and unique dishes, including local horse meat and wagyu beef! It was very filling, even for a woman! Please note that the restaurant intentionally doesn't have Wi-Fi; the owner hopes guests can quietly enjoy their meal without disturbance! I absolutely applaud this! The ryokan also offers a shuttle service to Kurokawa Onsen Station, which is a 5-minute drive away. Next time, I plan to stay in Kurokawa Onsen for two days to fully enjoy the peace and quiet!

Rooms, open-air hot springs, service... almost perfect! I could easily stay here for two or three days alone and not get bored. If you arrange it in advance, the driver will pick you up from the bus station and also drop you off when you leave, so there's absolutely no need to worry about transportation. I'm so glad I chose this hotel; thankfully, I didn't stay in the center of Kurokawa town, which was too crowded and a bit noisy. Why 'almost'? Because the duvet didn't have a proper cover, just a thin sheet separating it, which got messy every time I moved. It didn't feel very hygienic or comfortable. The food was just okay, nothing particularly outstanding, but it was filling. However, the dining environment was very pleasant! Overall, this is a hotel I would highly recommend to friends!

I love the interior of this resort. The staff members are really friendly and helpful. I had little knowledge in selecting local onsen resort, so my initial expectation was not high. Much to my surprise, I love everything this hotel has had. Facility wise everything looks brand new. The room is spacious and comfy. The public bath and indoor onsen are big and clean. As for the meals, the presentations were good and they were delicious. I have no complaint about it. Keep up with the good work. Look forward to staying there again.

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.

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.

It’s a good private house. But I’m won’t recommend if weather is cold or raining, or if you’re traveling with young kids. I travelled with my family with two toddlers. The bath and onsen are outdoors, not quite well lit and not well covered. The hot water water pressure is low, and the water is either very hot or very cold. It was a cold, raining and windy that night. It was a horrible experience for us because of the above, and the kids had a lot of trouble taking a bath. And we were worried they might catch a cold. And strangely the door lock of the bath is locked from the outside and not from the inside. Also remember to buy food before entering. We bought ours and cooked our own dinner. Otherwise, it’s a good private house, probably best for adults.

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.

Very satisfied, I was a little worried about seeing some messages before I came, but our own experience was still very good. I booked two rooms, the environment was quiet and comfortable, the room was clean and the bed and pillows were very comfortable, so that the quality of sleep was very good. The room has private soup and open air. The food is also very rich. If you have time to have money, you may wish to stay for two days and have a good rest. The boss and all employees are very enthusiastic, but the earliest check in is 2:30pm. If you arrive early, you have to wait, so pay attention to the time.