Yukyonohibiki Yusai — Hotel in Minamioguni

Traveled with my adult daughter and had a difficult time choosing where to stay in Kurokawa. I wanted a place with a good choice of onsens so that we didn't have to go out (not interested in onsen hopping). Also, my daughter is not fond of some Japanese food (especially breakfast) and this property offered a buffet for both meals. This turned out to be an excellent choice for these and many other reasons. The variety and quality of the onsens were excellent. We really enjoyed the bamboo and semi-open air baths. I booked a Japanese/Western style room with an outdoor balcony over the river. The room was huge, with lovely decor. I was reluctant to pay extra for the balcony, but I'm so glad I did! Being able to sit on the balcony and listen to the sound of the waterfall/river and birds (especially at night) was so wonderful. Beds were very comfortable. The common areas/lobby are peaceful and relaxing. The buffet dinner and breakfasts were very good. We live in a remote area of the US without access to Asian restaurants and were relatively inexperienced with Japanese cuisine. This was a wonderful way to be able to try small amounts of dishes to learn what we liked without ordering and wasting food that we didn't care for. And we definitely found many things that we very much enjoyed! There was a lot of variety on the buffet. Excellent coffee and beer/wine/liquor was included. Getting to/from Kurokawa using public transit takes a bit of planning (traveled by bus (Sanko bus booked through Willer bus website) from Kumamoto and then on to Fukuoka), but it is do-able. I would definitely stay at this property again...

We stayed at Yukyonohibiki Yusai for two nights in October and had a mostly enjoyable experience. The room we booked was spacious enough for our son to move around comfortably. It also offered a stunning riverside view, accompanied by the soothing sound of flowing water that enhanced our sleep quality.

The staff were friendly and helpful, assisting us with luggage and parking. For dinner, we ordered horse sashimi and Aka beef, both of which were delicious and provided a great opportunity to taste local dishes. Our son particularly enjoyed both the dinner and breakfast experiences at the hotel.

One of the standout features was the onsen. The hotel separates onsen facilities for day visitors and hotel guests, ensuring a less crowded experience. They also offer private onsen options for hotel guests, which gave us a memorable family onsen time that our son thoroughly enjoyed.

However, we did encounter one disappointment during our stay. A guest in the next room was smoking on their balcony, which made my wife and son feel uncomfortable. We believe the hotel should enforce clearer policies about smoking, ensuring it is allowed only in designated areas.

Despite this, Yukyonohibiki Yusai provided a tranquil and pleasant stay, and we appreciated the thoughtful amenities, scenic views, and...

Stayed a night here after visiting the Kuju highlands. The front desk staff were very friendly and helpful; even helped us to cart our luggage to our rooms which usually doesn't happen much in Japan these days. The common lounge area overlooking the river was lovely, especially at sunset. The bar where free drinks and small snacks were served during happy hour was also very welcomed 😌 The dinner and breakfast in the restaurant were served buffet-style and when we were there beginning of March this year, the place was packed. However, food was quickly replenished, of high quality and overall yummy. Dinner also came with free flow beer and alcohol that you can mix yourself. For the onsen experience, definitely go to the one reserved for hotel guests for better ambiance and space. The location was very convenient as it is the first ryokan when you turn into Kurokawa so no need to traverse the narrow road to find your hotel. Parking was also free and ample so no worries there too. After dinner, a stroll to the bridge overlooking the river is highly recommended to take in the magical atmosphere of the lanterns in and above the river. If not sure how to go, just ask the front desk...