A Visit to Kurokawa Yusai Onsen
In September 2025, on the second day of my bike tour, I visited Kurokawa Yusai Yukono Hibiki Onsen, located in the Kurokawa Onsen village in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan.
I am sharing this information in the hope that it will be helpful to those planning to visit Kurokawa Onsen village or stay at Kurokawa Yusai Onsen.
Brief Introduction to Onsen Yusai
Kurokawa Onsen Yukyo no Hibiki Yusai (黒川温泉 湯峡の響き 優彩), located in the Kurokawa Onsen village, is a relatively rare, hotel-style onsen ryokan even among the hot spring inns in the area, and is composed of the following two buildings:
Kurokawa Onsen Yusai Main Building
Kurokawa Onsen Yusai Annex
Below is a table summarizing the key differences between the main building and the annex.
Differences between the main building and the annex at Yusai Onsen
| Main Building | Annex | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of guest rooms: approx | 60 | 16 |
| Number of onsen baths: approx | 7 | 2 |
| Restaurant | O | X (meals are taken at the main building) |
| Karaoke / Bar | O | X |
| Meals | Breakfast and dinner included | Breakfast and dinner included |
| Parking | Available | Available |
| Price | Weekday rate approx. USD 200–340 | Weekday rate approx. USD 70–135 |
While there are several differences, the key points are as follows. Most (to be honest, virtually all) of the hot spring facilities are located in the main building, and all meals are served there as well.
The annex is essentially just for accommodation; it does have its own onsen, but it is very small. Although the distance from the annex to the main building is not far—about a two-minute walk for an adult—some guests may find it inconvenient to walk over to the main building every time for meals and bathing.
However, this inconvenience comes with a clear advantage: the room rates at the annex are approximately one-third to one-quarter of those at the main building, making it a significantly more affordable option.
Parking Guide – Annex
On this trip, I transported my motorcycle (Piaggio Vespa GTS 300) from Korea to Japan by ferry and visited Yusai Onsen as part of a touring itinerary, so I did not use public transportation.
Although Kurokawa Onsen village is located fairly deep in the mountains, it is a well-known hot spring town and can be reached without much difficulty by bus. However, if you plan to visit other nearby areas for sightseeing as well, I would recommend using a rental car or another private means of transportation.
For reference, I toured Japan by motorcycle on a Vespa GTS 300 and visited Kurokawa during that trip, so I did not experience any major inconvenience in terms of getting around. For those visiting without a rental car, I will explain how to access the area by bus at the end of this post.
This is my motorcycle parked in the annex parking lot.
Parking for roughly one vehicle per annex room appears to be secured, but given the size of the lot, it seems that once it is full, guests will be directed to use the large parking area in front of the building.
Fortunately, I arrived early and was able to park safely on the first floor of the building.
Parking Guide – Main Building
At the main building, a large number of cars can be parked in front of the property and
there is also a large parking lot located below by the river.
For guests staying in the main building, there is no need to worry about parking, as all parking is handled through complimentary valet service, so you can simply leave your car keys and avoid any parking-related stress.
Overview of the Yusai Onsen Annex
Complimentary footbath in front of the annex
When you arrive at the annex of Kurokawa Yusai Onsen, the first thing you will notice is the complimentary footbath. At first, I naturally assumed it was operated by the Kurokawa Onsen village, but later found out that it is actually a free footbath run by Yusai Onsen itself.
I briefly soaked my feet and found the water temperature to be comfortable, but because it was raining on the day of my visit, I did not make full use of the facility.
As this spot is located at the entrance to Kurokawa Onsen village, it seemed like a convenient place to stop by when you have some time to spare on your way up to catch the bus or during check-in and check-out.
Overview of the first floor of the annex
This is the view of the annex’s first-floor lobby as seen from the hotel entrance.
It is small, but has a cozy and clean atmosphere.
View toward the entrance from inside the lobby.
Various self-service stations
On the first-floor lobby, there is a complimentary coffee machine, allowing guests to enjoy a variety of coffees without limitation.
Espresso, Americano, latte, and other options are available.
In the white container next to it, there appears to be syrup intended to be added to coffee, but as I prefer the original taste of coffee, I did not use it.
There is, of course, a water dispenser where you can drink purified water.
Next to the dispenser, sugar and small milk portions are provided for adding to coffee or tea.
There is an ice machine, so you can help yourself to as much ice as you like.
It is especially convenient when you want to enjoy soft drinks or coffee over ice.
A microwave oven is also available.
It is very convenient for heating up boxed meals or other food purchased from convenience stores or supermarkets.
A beverage vending machine is also located beside the hotel front desk. Since there are no 24-hour convenience stores in Kurokawa Onsen village, these vending machines can be extremely useful in an emergency.
Next to the coffee machine, yukata and wooden sandals (geta) in various sizes are provided for guests to take and wear within the onsen and ryokan. They are not stocked separately in the guest rooms, so be sure to pick them up in the lobby. You can wear them inside the ryokan or when walking over to the main building of Yusai Onsen.
Hotel Front Desk
This is the front desk area in the first-floor lobby.
On the day of my stay, the staff were very kind and provided clear guidance.
Although I was not able to take photos, at check-in they handed out the following tickets per night:
- Main building onsen pass (unlimited use)
- Dinner coupon
- Breakfast coupon
A total of three tickets are provided, so be sure not to lose them and make good use of each one.
Overview of the second floor of the annex
I was assigned a room on the second floor, and the annex of Kurokawa Yusai Onsen has guest rooms up to the third floor.
You can reach the second floor via the staircase next to the lobby.
As there is no elevator in the annex, you will need to carry your luggage up the stairs. When staff are present, they will assist you if you ask, but as they are not always stationed there, you may have to carry your bags yourself.
For the Yusai Onsen annex, if you are not comfortable with stairs, it is highly advisable to request a room on the second floor at check-in.
On the second-floor corridor, there is a floor plan and information map of the floor. From this, you can see that there are a total of eight guest rooms.
This is the second-floor corridor.
Guest rooms are located on both sides, and although it is not clearly visible in the photo, there is a women-only onsen at the end of the hallway.
Annex Onsen Guide
Each guest room is equipped with a private toilet, but unfortunately there is no shower (there is a washbasin for washing hands and brushing teeth).
As there are no individual bathing facilities, guests must either go to the main building or use the communal bath on the second floor of the annex for bathing and showering. The annex onsen is divided into separate baths for men and women.
As photography is prohibited inside the bathing area, I will instead use the official photos from the Kurokawa Onsen Yusai Annex website.
Based on the men’s bath, the facilities inside are as follows:
✔️ Three shower stations
✔️ One onsen bath
However, I am not sure if this is the usual setting, but the water temperature in the men’s bath was extremely hot. Although I was unable to take a photo at the time, the water was close to 45°C, making it difficult even to dip my feet in, so I ended up only taking a shower and leaving.
Overview of the Annex Guest Rooms
First of all, I must apologize for not being able to photograph the room while it was still tidy.
I arrived after riding my bike in the rain and was in such a rush to unpack that I had no time to get organized.
The room features a tatami-style floor with two single beds. It is fairly spacious and equipped with all the essentials you would expect.
In one corner of the room, there is a compact television (approximately 27–32 inches), a wardrobe, and a safe. In front of the TV, basic amenities such as toothbrushes, a hair dryer, and other bathroom essentials are provided.
To the left of that, there was a door, and curious about what kind of room it was, I opened it.
Extra thick blankets and other bedding were stored inside in case of cold weather. The space was large enough to use for luggage storage or even for one or two people to sleep in. I also read a review from a guest who stayed in winter, noting that the room was quite cold—very much in line with what you might expect in Japan. If you plan to visit in winter, you should be well prepared for the cold.
On one side of the room, on top of a small refrigerator, there are bottles of water, two cup noodles, cups, and an electric kettle.
The cup noodles are complimentary, and there is nothing in particular stored inside the refrigerator. As you can tell from its size, it is for refrigeration only and does not offer a freezer function. To avoid any disappointment, it is better not to buy items such as ice cream from a convenience store expecting to keep them frozen.
Next to the refrigerator, there is a rack for hanging laundry.
Because of the nature of Japanese hot springs, the small towels you carry around for modesty need to be thoroughly dried after use if you plan to use them again for your next visit to the baths, so be sure to hang them up and let them dry completely.
This door leads to the bathroom.
Inside the bathroom, there is a single washbasin directly in front of you.
On the left side of the hallway, there is also a small garden visible through a glass window.
On the washbasin, there is a hand soap dispenser along with a cup.
One rather surprising point, however, is that it only supplies cold water.
Even when we visited, the water already felt quite cold, and I can easily imagine that in midwinter it might be so cold as to be almost unusable.
The toilet is located in a separate, enclosed room.
It is a standard bidet-style toilet commonly used in Japan.
Yusai Onsen Main Building Guide
How to Get from the Annex to the Main Building
As mentioned earlier, you need to go to the main building to use the large communal baths and have your meals.
According to Google Maps, the distance from the Kurokawa Onsen Yusai Annex to the main building is approximately 160 meters, which takes about 2–3 minutes on foot for an average adult.
This may vary from person to person, but personally, I did not find the distance to be particularly far.
Entrance to the lobby of the Kurokawa Onsen Yusai main building. The front desk is located on the right. By presenting your tickets at the front desk or to a staff member on the right and then taking the elevator down, you can access the onsen and the restaurant.
Yusai Onsen Main Building Floor Guide
This is the floor guide for the Kurokawa Yusai Onsen main building.
The entrance shown in the previous photo is not the first floor, but is designated as the fourth floor in this building.
In other words, when using the onsen or dining facilities, you go down from the fourth floor.
The top floor is an observatory where you can view the stars, and I have seen reviews mentioning that the night sky is quite clear there, but I did not have the chance to use it myself.
Lobby on the First Floor of the Main Building
A photo of the first-floor lobby taken after using the onsen.
Whereas many of the other inns in Kurokawa Onsen have a more classical, so-called “Showa era” atmosphere and the look of a traditional hot spring ryokan, the lobby of Yusai Onsen’s main building is noticeably more modern and has the familiar feel of a contemporary hotel.
The lobby features large floor-to-ceiling windows that offer a tranquil view of the Kurokawa Onsen village scenery.
If you have time after breakfast, it seems like a wonderful place to sit with a cup of coffee and enjoy a conversation.
The glass-enclosed area is a designated smoking room.
I am not sure why it was placed in this particular location, but it appears to reflect consideration for the unexpectedly large number of smokers in Japan.
Although it is a separate smoking room, there was still a noticeable smell of cigarettes when standing nearby. I personally would have preferred it to be located entirely outdoors, so this aspect was a bit disappointing.
Onsen Guide
Available Onsen Facilities
The main reason for staying at the Kurokawa Onsen Yusai Annex is that, at a relatively affordable rate, you have unlimited access to the large underground communal baths in the main building.
(Of course, the ability to enjoy both breakfast and dinner there is also a major advantage.)
Since many of the hot spring facilities in Kurokawa are quite expensive, this becomes a significant benefit.
| Main / Annex Overnight Guests | Day-Trip Bathing Guests | |
|---|---|---|
| Yutaki Onsen | O | O |
| Jusai Onsen | O | O |
| Chikurin-no-Yu | O | X |
| Souhi-no-Yu | O | X |
| Keiryu-no-Yu | O | X |
| Yutaki-no-Yu | O | X |
| Nagomi-no-Yu | O | X |
For reference, the hot spring facilities at the main building of Kurokawa Yusai Onsen are divided into two types: baths that are exclusively for staying guests and baths that can be used by day-trip visitors. For further details, please refer to the table above.
Guide to Onsen Types
As photography is, of course, prohibited inside the baths, I was unable to take my own pictures and have instead included photos from the official website.
Yutaki Onsen
This is an indoor bath that you encounter immediately after undressing in the changing room. On the side opposite the photo, there is a designated shower area. If you open the door on the left side of this bath and step outside, you can access a semi–open-air onsen area.
Jusai Onsen
When you step outside through the door from Yutaki Onsen, you will find Jusai Onsen, a semi open-air bath.
Roughly half of the space is indoors and the other half is outdoors, yet it still offers a pleasantly atmospheric setting. The water temperature is comfortable, and the overall ambiance is calm and well designed, making it a good place to soak for an extended period of time.
Jusai Onsen and Yutaki Onsen are open to guests staying in the annex, so I was able to use both. However, I did not personally try the other baths, so I will refrain from commenting on them and instead introduce them using photos from the official website.
With such a wide variety of baths available, guests staying in the main building are highly encouraged to take the opportunity to enjoy the different onsen experiences.
Overview of Breakfast and Dinner
On the day of arrival, we visited the main building for dinner for the first time.
Meals are served at the restaurant on the 3rd floor of the main building, so you go down one floor to the third floor.
On the way to dinner, I came across this sign.
At the time, I had no idea what it meant and wondered if it might be the name of the restaurant. Later, after looking it up, I found that
歌い処-里山 (literally “a place to sing – Satoyama”)
is most likely a sign indicating a karaoke venue.
A chair and an artificial flower arrangement in the corridor leading to the restaurant.
Restaurant Interior
Perhaps because this ryokan has a large number of guest rooms, the restaurant itself is quite spacious.
As a side note, as of November 2025, Kurokawa Yusai Onsen is the only inn in Kurokawa Onsen village that offers both breakfast and dinner in a buffet style rather than as a kaiseki course meal.
To state the conclusion first, I was personally very satisfied with both breakfast and dinner.
(For reference, I do not claim to have a particularly refined palate, and I am very fond of buffets.)
Buffet Dishes Overview
Dinner and breakfast are served in the same restaurant with largely similar dishes.
As with a typical hotel buffet, please note that breakfast is offered in a simpler format, with a few of the “signature” items from the dinner menu omitted.
They offer both plain white rice and multigrain rice, and, true to Japanese style, miso soup and curry are of course also available.
(It seems that in virtually any hotel you visit, miso soup and curry are among the most basic staples.)
The overall composition of the menu is a mix of Western and Japanese dishes, with approximately 70% Japanese cuisine and 30% Western cuisine. There were items such as soup, a spicy stew made with bacon and tomatoes, and omelettes.
Smoked salmon, various grilled and fried fish (tempura), and salads are also available.
There were nicely grilled fish and, although I did not take any photos, a variety of seafood skewers as well.
Sushi and a variety of other Japanese dishes are also available.
In particular, individual shabu-shabu portions are served with personal burners so you can enjoy them to your own taste, which, in my view, made the overall food selection quite varied.
Although I do not drink alcohol and therefore did not photograph it separately, alcoholic beverages were also offered on an all-you-can-drink basis.
(Photos are provided below.)
As I had only grabbed a quick lunch that day and was quite exhausted from riding the bike, I focused on loading up my plate and eating, so I ended up taking fewer food photos than I had intended. For more detailed images of the dishes, I will share photos from the official Yusai Onsen website below.
Unlimited alcoholic beverages
At the dinner buffet at Kurokawa Yusai Onsen, there is a separate alcohol station set up in one corner of the beverage area, and all alcoholic drinks there are offered on an unlimited basis. This is likely very enticing news for those who enjoy drinking.
In fact, while I was using the buffet, I saw several men who appeared to be fond of alcohol diligently returning to pour themselves more drinks multiple times.
For reference, I do not drink alcohol myself, so unfortunately I am unable to comment on the taste.
Overall Evaluation
Location
Because it is located at the entrance of Kurokawa Onsen village, this is a significant advantage for those using public transportation. Of course, most ryokan offer a shuttle service to pick guests up at the village entrance, but having the property itself so close to the entrance is clearly a strong plus.
Cleanliness
The cleanliness of the annex was somewhat disappointing. When I entered the room, I could see dust with the naked eye on the bedding and the TV cabinet. I am not sure whether the room had simply been vacant for several days, but even though I am not especially sensitive about cleanliness, I felt that more hygiene-conscious guests, particularly women, might find this noticeable and bothersome.
Service and Hospitality
As is typical of Japanese onsen inns, the staff’s level of kindness and service was excellent. Whenever I asked for help, I felt they did their best to assist me.
Noise
The Yusai Onsen annex is a wooden building, and by nature of its wooden structure, sounds from the upper floor and the corridor carried directly into the room. While I was staying on the second floor, I could clearly hear movements from the third floor, which was a bit unsettling at first. Fortunately, it did not remain noisy late into the night, so it did not seriously interfere with my sleep. That said, for guests with sensitive hearing, I would find it difficult to recommend the annex.
Quality of Sleep
As this is a more hotel-style ryokan, the fact that the rooms have proper beds is an advantage and likely less polarizing than traditional futon bedding. I personally found the bed comfortable and was able to sleep well. However, if the noise level mentioned above happens to be high during your stay, the overall quality of sleep could be affected.
Value for Money
In terms of value for money, the annex scores very highly. Although I was only able to use two of the onsen facilities in the main building, both were in good condition and I was very satisfied with them. In particular, considering that both breakfast and dinner are included at this relatively low price, the attractiveness of the annex increases significantly.
Overall Evaluation
If you want to enjoy a good-value onsen stay in Kurokawa Onsen village, I can strongly recommend choosing the Yusai annex. With two meals a day and unlimited access to the main building’s baths included at this price point, there is very little reason not to take advantage of it.
Preferences regarding the food will naturally vary from person to person, but I personally found the meals to be very tasty and would rate them as significantly better than the typical kaiseki course served at many traditional onsen ryokan.
However, if you find the idea of walking back and forth to the main building extremely bothersome, or if you are particularly sensitive to noise in your room, it may be worth considering staying in the main building instead, even at a higher price.
| 위치 | |
| 청결 상태 | |
| 서비스 및 친절도 | |
| 소음 | |
| 수면의 질 | |
| 가성비 | |
|
Average
|
|
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Are there any English-speaking staff at Kurokawa Yusai Onsen?
I can manage basic communication in Japanese, so I did not specifically try speaking in English. However, one of the Japanese staff members in the main building recognized that I was Korean (which secretly made me happy, as there were many Chinese tourists) and briefly spoke to me in Korean. Given that a considerable number of guests come from English-speaking countries as well, it is likely that there are staff members who can communicate in English.
Is Kurokawa Yusai Onsen a popular hot spring?
Based on my own booking experience and actual stay, both the main building and the annex are quite popular.
Because it operates more like a hotel-style ryokan, it appeared to be particularly favored by Chinese guests (the restaurant had a noticeable number of Chinese visitors). After my stay, when I checked availability again to help a friend make a reservation, I found that many room types were already fully booked even 2–3 months in advance.
Even aside from foreign visitors, most ryokan in Kurokawa Onsen village are generally in high demand, so you will likely need to book at least 2–3 months ahead to secure the room type you want.
Is it feasible to visit using public transportation such as buses?
There is a bus stop at the entrance to Kurokawa Onsen village, and there are also direct bus services, so it is quite convenient to use public transportation (buses).
However, if you plan to spend your entire stay only within Kurokawa Onsen village, public transportation should be sufficient, but if you wish to visit nearby attractions such as Aso City or Mount Aso, you will likely encounter considerable limitations.
Is it practical to drive there by rental car?
Because the road runs through the mountains, there are quite a few curves, but I do not think it is particularly difficult to drive unless you are a complete beginner.
However, in winter, snow can accumulate and the roads may freeze, so if you plan to visit by rental car during the winter season, I strongly recommend ensuring that the car is equipped with winter tires. (I have even heard that, at times, buses are unable to operate because the roads are icy.)
Information and Access Guide for Kurokawa Yusai Onsen
Information for Kurokawa Yusai Onsen
Address: 6554-1 Kita-Kurokawa, Manganji, Minamioguni-machi, Aso District, Kumamoto 869-2402, Japan
Main Building Official Website : https://www.yusai.com/en/index.html
Google Maps link for the main building : https://maps.app.goo.gl/YCwwrUXetkwjHwea7
Google Maps link for the annex : https://maps.app.goo.gl/tQ3oBvciMwGiSkpd6
Route for Rental Cars and Private Vehicles (Including Expressways)
If you are traveling by car from Fukuoka Airport, you can use the Google Maps link above.
Please note that this route includes expressways, and as you may know, expressway tolls in Japan are considerably more expensive than in Korea.
If you prefer to avoid expressways and use regular roads only, please refer to the link below.
일반 도로 위치 경로 : https://maps.app.goo.gl/Ky8WA6PZrhTFDdzn9
When Using Public Transportation
Booking website: https://www.highwaybus.com/
If you enter the keyword “kurokawa” in the keyword field, the available bus services will be displayed in the search results.
However, when you actually proceed with the reservation, the English site frequently has errors. In many cases, even when seats are available, a message appears stating that there are no seats. For a smoother booking experience, I recommend using the Japanese site and completing the process with the help of your browser’s translation function.
By following the steps below and using automatic translation to switch the Japanese page into English, you should be able to complete the reservation without much difficulty.
① Bus Route
Route name: Fukuoka / Fukuoka Airport – Kurokawa Onsen Line
Operating companies: Jointly operated express bus by Hita Bus and Kyushu Sanko Bus, etc.
Type: Express highway bus (direct service)
② Boarding Point
Near express bus stops 8–11 in front of the International Terminal at Fukuoka Airport
③ Time & Fare
Travel time: Approximately 2 hours 15 minutes
Fare: Approximately JPY 4,000 one way
Service frequency: Around 3 services per day (may vary by season)