2-Star Hotels in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan

Impeccable Service From the moment we arrived, the hospitality at Takenokura Sansou was exceptional. The receptionist came out to the car park to welcome us personally and escorted us to the reception office. He and his colleague then helped unload our luggage and thoughtfully delivered everything to our room. The warmth extended well beyond the front desk. As we walked through the dining hall en route to our room, even the chef greeted us with a smile, which immediately made us feel genuinely welcomed. The staff took the time to explain all the room amenities in detail, including how to adjust the temperature of the private outdoor onsen. At the dining hall, the service team was consistently friendly and approachable, despite my limited Japanese. They served us with patience and sincerity—even when my son happily requested four servings of their heavenly dinner rolls. Upon checkout, the team came out again to bid us farewell. This was, without question, the best service we experienced throughout our 18-day journey across Kyushu. Facilities While some aspects of the room décor and appliances are dated, everything was immaculately clean. As someone particularly fussy about bedding, I can confidently say that Takenokura Sansou offers the best futon I have experienced since I began traveling to Japan in 1999. The quilt was fluffy and soft, while the futon was firm yet incredibly comfortable. I honestly wanted to stay longer just for the sleep. The private outdoor onsen was the highlight of our stay. The small garden was beautifully arranged, creating a serene and intimate atmosphere. The water temperature could be easily adjusted, and soaking while gazing up at the sky was pure enjoyment. The room layout was clearly well thought out, with the shower located just before the outdoor onsen and a door to keep out the cold—allowing you to warm up comfortably before stepping outside into the winter air. A small heater near the porch area by the toilet would be a welcome addition to make late-night visits more comfortable, but this is a very minor suggestion. Dining This was probably the best dinner we had during our time in Kyushu. Takenokura Sansou surprised us with a beautifully executed fusion-style, course-by-course kaiseki meal. Combined with cocktails and warm interactions with the charming and friendly oba-chan service staff, the entire dining experience embodied what I love most about Japan: excellent food, heartfelt service, and meticulous attention to detail. One moment stood out in particular. When my son asked—in English—whether he could have a fourth serving of the dinner roll, the chef unexpectedly emerged from the open kitchen and personally served him a freshly toasted roll with soft butter. We were genuinely delighted and deeply touched by this thoughtful gesture. Conclusion Everything about our stay at Takenokura Sansou was exceptional. My only regret is booking just one night. I will most certainly return if I visit the Mount Aso area again. Well done, Takenokura Sansou—you truly deserve this praise.

The location was a bit challenging at first, as it was a long, uphill road from the hot spring village, but everything else was great. Thank you. If you send us an email in advance of your first visit, they'll come pick you up in a car, so if you plan on staying here, please contact them! It's incredibly difficult to walk.

Highly recommended! Great value for money, the whole hotel has a super cozy vibe. It's right near the train station, which is really convenient. Too bad it rained this time, but I'm looking forward to coming back again!

I honestly do not know where to start, I booked the hotel without really knowing much about Kumamoto Prefecture. After arriving in Kumamoto City and then realising Ueki Onsen is another 40 minute bus ride I was thinking oh dear where am I staying. After arriving at the hotel I was greeted by the manager of the hotel who showed me to my room and gave me a tour of the facilities. Once settled in I realised there isn't great public transport around and I primarily wanted to see Beppu and Yufuin during my stay, I enquired with the manager on where I might be able to rent a car, with little to no Japanese language under my belt he took it upon himself to reserve a vehicle for me and offered to drive me himself to collect it. He then also said he would take me back to return it a few days later. After my trips to Beppu and Yufui village (Not to be missed) and not to miss the outstanding and beautiful surroundings in Uekimachi and the Aso region. The manager and I set off to return my hire car, on the way back he took me to Kikuchi shrine to pray and also gifted me coffee and cake. They also accommodated me with use of the on site onsen (amazing) after hours as I'm heavily tattooed. I feel truly grateful to have found this hidden gem of rural Japan and if you are thinking of traveling this great country I emplore you to go off the beaten path. I experienced untold kindness during my stay and have memories of a life time. Thank you so much guys

The place was spotless and our room had two twin beds, a kitchenette, and the toilet space was modern and sparkling. What made this the best was its location on a little beach surrounded by mountains. Lots of parking for the cars (you have to drive there as it is remote) and the proprieters went above and beyond to give us a map of the area in English with notes telling us where cherry blossoms were blooming at that time and other things. Every day when we returned to the room there was a basket by the door with refreshed supplies. Our room had everything you needed to cook as well as a little table. You have to bring food from Amakusa City as there is no place to shop nearby but once you are there it is totally worth it. There is also plenty of picnic table style seating on the front patio of the rest house. We did not use them but they had stand-up paddleboards, snorkle gear, etc. The sound of the waves and lots of places to hike nearby were amazing.

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.

Our recent stay at a charming guesthouse felt like stepping into the pages of a fairytale. The entire house exuded simplicity and warmth, reminiscent of a storybook setting. The gracious host welcomed us with genuine enthusiasm, even though our grasp of Japanese was limited. Despite the language barrier, we thoroughly enjoyed our conversations. The highlight of our stay was undoubtedly the sumptuous dinner. We were almost too full to continue after indulging in the feast. The homemade hamburger steak, lovingly prepared by the host, was exceptionally delicious. If you’re seeking a heartwarming experience in Aso, I highly recommend giving this guesthouse a try.

This is a great place to stay if you want to be in a peaceful and quiet location. It is in the village with not much disturbances. The owner is very helpful and try to answer your questions about bus and train services in the area. You can find some local restaurants nearby using your Google map. The restaurants are close around 3 to 4 pm most days. The closing hours for the restaurants are not accurate. This is a small town; if they don’t have costumers after a certain hours in the evening, they will be closed. Be mindful about that and come prepared with snacks and food!

What a great experience! Very glad we spend one night at this unique place. The staff was extremely helpfull and kind. The rooms are very decent, considering it's an old sleeper train. Just keep in mind the rooms are quite narrow so there is not a lot of space to keep luggage in the room. And the other facilities (bathroom, common rooom) are not abundant, but clean and very much so sufficient for spending a night.

The hotel is located right at one of the very busy shopping streets of Kumamoto with many shops and restaurants. We had had very pleasant stroll there and had dinner and snack. The room is very spacious and clean. The two matt glass windows cannot be opened per se. One has light and the other very little. The soap provided is of better quality than that of the other hotels I have stayed in. The dispenser says Kao.