Kurokawa Onsen

Kurokawa Onsen is a mountain spa located on the slopes of the Aso Massif in Aso District (Kumamoto Prefecture) on Kyushu Island. It is one of the most popular and renowned spas in Japan, and has many luxury spas.

To get to Kurokawa Onsen from Fukuoka, take the bus from Hakata station (2 hours and 30 minutes direct trip). From Kumamoto, it is necessary to take the bus Kyushu Odan to Kurokawa Onsen (2 hours and 30 minutes of direct trip), but it is necessary to be careful because this bus ensures only two connections per day.

In Kurokawa Onsen the ryokan (traditional Japanese inns) follow one another along the valley on the banks of the Tanohara River. Some of them have existed for several centuries and all have their own onsen (thermal bath), most of them being large outdoor stone baths (rotenburo) located in the middle of nature and surrounded by forest. An idyllic setting to enjoy the hot springs and traditional Japanese thermal luxury!

To find your way among the many establishments and bathing places in Kurokawa Onsen, and to identify those that are open to the public, those that can be visited during the day, and those that can be frequented according to gender, it is advisable to start your visit of the village with the information center. There you can get a lot of advice on what to look for and a map of the area.

For accommodation, it is advisable to choose an authentic traditional inn (ryokan). For an authentic immersion in Japanese tradition, you can opt for a formula including the kaiseki menu (a gastronomic meal consisting of a series of several refined dishes) and a night in an inn. It is recommended to reserve well in advance, especially for a stay during the red maple leaf season or for Golden Week in the spring.

With a more limited budget, one can still enjoy the baths at Kurokawa Onsen even without spending the night in a hostel, as the village baths are open to the public during the day. It is possible to opt for a pass that allows you to test 3 Onsen for only 1300 yen.

Apart from the baths, the visit of the village is worth the detour. One feels transported to the Edo period and it is not uncommon to come across visitors in Yukata (the traditional bathing attire) and wooden tap dance. In the Kurokawa Onsen area, one can also tackle the ascent of the peaks of the Aso Caldera.