Fujiya — Hotel in Minamioguni

Acceptable, but a step below other ryokan in the area at this price point.

I had a good stay at Fujiya Ryokan in Kurokawa Onsen. The ryokan’s central location made it easy to explore other nearby onsens, adding to the experience. The food was a highlight, with delicious, high-quality dishes that felt truly authentic. The interior design throughout was beautiful, and the dining area, covered in tatami, was especially charming and immersive. The indoor onsen was well-maintained with a nostalgic “Showa” vibe. I loved the small outdoor small standing area overlooking the river, which led to the sauna—a serene spot to unwind.

While Fujiya Ryokan had its charms, a few areas fell short of expectations: Room Choice and Description: We opted for the Western-style room with two beds, which was notably larger but lacked any view—something that would have been helpful to know in advance as it could affect room selection. Rotenburo Arrangement: Fujiya doesn’t have its own on-site open-air bath (rotenburo). Instead, guests are directed to Noshiyu, a nearby ryokan about a five-minute walk away. While the rotenburo itself is atmospheric, it’s quite small and lacks shower facilities. Unfortunately, the staff did not inform us about the absence of showers beforehand, which would have been helpful to know. Service and Staff Engagement: While the staff member serving us was polite, I found them to be somewhat unmotivated and low on enthusiasm, especially compared to other ryokans. In fact, the non-Japanese staff attending other guests seemed to be more genuinely welcoming. Pre-Arrival Communication: Compared to other ryokans in the area, the pre-arrival communication felt less attentive, which can be crucial for arranging things like transportation or special requests ahead of time. Transportation Assistance: Upon check in, the ryokan couldn’t arrange a drop-off to the bus station for checkout the next day as we hadn't pre-arranged this. This is fine, but they also didn’t suggest arranging a taxi for us. This was something we eventually had to initiate on our own, whereas most ryokans would offer this alternative on their own accord. Perhaps they could have asked if we needed transport to the bus station in the pre-arrival communication?

Overall, I felt that both the amenities and service level were slightly below those of similar ryokans in the area at this price point. While Fujiya’s design and location were appealing, more consistent guest support and attention to detail would elevate the experience and better...

I spent two weeks in Kyushu in October 2015, and stayed in an AirBnB for most of it - however I decided to treat myself to a stay in an onsen resort for a bit of relaxation and luxury. Kurokawa itself is amazing, probably one of the best places I've visited in Japan (and I've been around), and Fujiya definitely added to the experience.||||Unfortunately I'm gluten intolerant and the staff didn't feel comfortable preparing a gluten-free meal for me, so I never got to try the food - however I did receive recommendations for where else I could eat, and the staff sat and talked to me about it for a while and offered tea and sweets.||||English is spoken, but I mainly conversed with the staff in Japanese who were very patient with me. :)||||The room was pretty good - all amenities available, including a hairbrush which came in handy when I lost my comb. Even pyjamas were provided. You can borrow a Yukata to wear around the various onsen in Kurokawa. My only complaint about the room was that the only window blinds were paper, which meant that the room was quite light even at night. I prefer to sleep in pitch black.||||The indoor onsen was amazing, and you can use an outdoor onsen in the town free of charge as a guest of Fujiya.||||In all I had a lovely time and I would...

I spent two weeks in Kyushu in October 2015, and stayed in an AirBnB for most of it - however I decided to treat myself to a stay in an onsen resort for a bit of relaxation and luxury. Kurokawa itself is amazing, probably one of the best places I've visited in Japan (and I've been around), and Fujiya definitely added to the experience.||||Unfortunately I'm gluten intolerant and the staff didn't feel comfortable preparing a gluten-free meal for me, so I never got to try the food - however I did receive recommendations for where else I could eat, and the staff sat and talked to me about it for a while and offered tea and sweets.||||English is spoken, but I mainly conversed with the staff in Japanese who were very patient with me. :)||||The room was pretty good - all amenities available, including a hairbrush which came in handy when I lost my comb. Even pyjamas were provided. You can borrow a Yukata to wear around the various onsen in Kurokawa. My only complaint about the room was that the only window blinds were paper, which meant that the room was quite light even at night. I prefer to sleep in pitch black.||||The indoor onsen was amazing, and you can use an outdoor onsen in the town free of charge as a guest of Fujiya.||||In all I had a lovely time and I would...