Hoshino Resorts KAI Aso — Hotel in Kokonoe

We are staying one night during Kagoshima trip.||||1. Location:||You need a car. We rented a car from Kumamoto station and drove approx. 2hours. It was beautiful drive through Milk Road passing by lots of farms, very easy to drive. In 10min drive you can visit Kurokawa Onsen for hot spring toppings and it was very cute spot to visit. ||||2. Room:||Every room is a self-standing large cottage. There's no units next to us.||We were on the "24", Botton of the resorts. This room was probably next largest I've ever stayed as standard room. Reminds me of Four Seasons Bali. THere's 2 Full size bed on tatami room and open living room with sofa sets. Separate toilet and shower/jacuzzi/vanity area, large balcony with outside bath. Good size mattress on balcony for lounging. ||||This room has floor-to-ceiling windows provides views of forests from every corner of the room including shower and vanity area. This room offers great privacy as it is facing mountain. ||||In the evening torch lights up outside and it was very romantic setting. ||||3. Dining||This hotel includes breakfast and dinner. Dinner has 2 choices of time 5:30pm and 7:30pm. It is almost Japanese version of French Cusine. Not only it was exquisite, it was beautiful work of art. If you are not in to eating horse meat, you have to tell them ahead of time you can't take horse meat. Horse meat is popular for this area and they will serve horse raw meat sashimi.||||After the dinner they'll serve desserts in the balcony outside in Kotatsu (heated table with futon cover). It was just amazing sitting on warm Kotatsu while eating desserts and looking at sky. ||||Concern:||We are not TV fan but this hotel does not offer CNN or any cable TV. Only Local TV available. But if you are staying here it is so beautiful looking at this forest view you will forget all about electronics. It is expensive but I think it was great value of money rather than spending the same amount at Kyoto Ritz-Carlton. It is just an amazing views and relaxation. ||||It should be able to serve family, but this is the place for quiet couple to enjoy the beautiful nature and hot springs. I think you'd enjoy visiting as a couple more...

We are staying one night during Kagoshima trip.||||1. Location:||You need a car. We rented a car from Kumamoto station and drove approx. 2hours. It was beautiful drive through Milk Road passing by lots of farms, very easy to drive. In 10min drive you can visit Kurokawa Onsen for hot spring toppings and it was very cute spot to visit. ||||2. Room:||Every room is a self-standing large cottage. There's no units next to us.||We were on the "24", Botton of the resorts. This room was probably next largest I've ever stayed as standard room. Reminds me of Four Seasons Bali. THere's 2 Full size bed on tatami room and open living room with sofa sets. Separate toilet and shower/jacuzzi/vanity area, large balcony with outside bath. Good size mattress on balcony for lounging. ||||This room has floor-to-ceiling windows provides views of forests from every corner of the room including shower and vanity area. This room offers great privacy as it is facing mountain. ||||In the evening torch lights up outside and it was very romantic setting. ||||3. Dining||This hotel includes breakfast and dinner. Dinner has 2 choices of time 5:30pm and 7:30pm. It is almost Japanese version of French Cusine. Not only it was exquisite, it was beautiful work of art. If you are not in to eating horse meat, you have to tell them ahead of time you can't take horse meat. Horse meat is popular for this area and they will serve horse raw meat sashimi.||||After the dinner they'll serve desserts in the balcony outside in Kotatsu (heated table with futon cover). It was just amazing sitting on warm Kotatsu while eating desserts and looking at sky. ||||Concern:||We are not TV fan but this hotel does not offer CNN or any cable TV. Only Local TV available. But if you are staying here it is so beautiful looking at this forest view you will forget all about electronics. It is expensive but I think it was great value of money rather than spending the same amount at Kyoto Ritz-Carlton. It is just an amazing views and relaxation. ||||It should be able to serve family, but this is the place for quiet couple to enjoy the beautiful nature and hot springs. I think you'd enjoy visiting as a couple more...

We visited Kai Aso for the first time during our Kyushu trip for two nights in April 2024. We booked directly via the hotel's website which was very convenient and transparent. We drove by rental car from Bebbu, which was a delightful journey through wonderful nature.||Arriving at the hotel, you will notice woods and nature around. The lobby and the adjacent restaurant provide a great open view. Our room/bungalow #13 was a few steps down from the lobby building in a very nice park. The room was large, well equipped and cozy with a private onsen on the terrace. To note, this is all nestled into nature and remember where the bug spray is, which was pointed out to us, as we had to use it.||Dinner was a treat on both evenings. We also enjoyed a generous serving of Umeshu on the rocks after dinner in the lobby lounge. Note that there are two dinner services at 17:30 and 19:30. If you prefer to dine later, be sure to reserve this spot in advance (easily done through the homepage), as this more popular spot tends to be sold out quickly. Likewise, we love Japanese breakfast and you can really indulge.||The hotel is a great base for exploring and we - as nice as the excursions were - also looked forward to returning, enjoy our private onsen and the excellent hospitality. We were there when the M6.6 earthquake hit the area on 17 April at night - but we felt safe in our bungalow.||For expectation management: Kai hotels or Ryokans operate as such and are not full service hotels. So there is no bar or restaurant available outside of breakfast and dinner, yet there is a lobby lounge for tea and small refreshments. At our first visit (Kai Sengokuhara), this surprised us a little bit, but when you know, you adapt accordingly and all is fine.||All in all, we had a great time and would happily...