Kamenoi Hotel Aso

Every room has a mountain view, and the room itself was great. Food was another strong point, with plenty at both buffets: sashimi, sushi, spaghetti, tempura, Chinese dishes, salad, grilled items, and desserts like Aso milk soft serve and cake. There's lots to do at the hotel too. You can borrow sports gear, though some sizes may be for kids, and there's baseball, football, and the onsen. The one real drawback was the central HVAC. We couldn't set our own room temperature, and it got very hot in winter. We sweated a lot overnight, so you may want to crack a window or turn off the air con. We still loved the hotel and would come back if we get the chance.

The breakfast and dinner buffets were much better than I expected. Everything tasted so good I couldn't choose a favorite. We had a triple room, which felt a little tight for three adults with luggage, probably because the toilet and bathroom are separate and take up more space. Still, it was nice and had a great view. All rooms look out onto the garden and mountains. The location works well if you have a car or don't plan to go out after checking in.

We booked the least expensive room. It was small, but the view was stunning. Dinner had a limited selection, though every dish felt distinctive and tasted great. The outdoor hot spring was lovely too, and the kids had a lot of fun. I hope they keep the quality up so more people get to enjoy Aso's beauty.

Dinner and breakfast were part of our stay, and dinner included unlimited drinks, with sake, wine, spirits, and beer. The buffet had some great items, especially bluefin tuna and wagyu beef. The onsens were relaxing and felt therapeutic. The hotel is set in the mountains of Aso. I had booked a Japanese-style room for five, then realized it didn't have a shower. The staff kindly arranged two Western-style rooms with beds and private showers for an extra 5,000 yen. We checked out the next day and drove to Mount Aso crater. It took about 30 minutes to reach the parking area, then a short walk to the viewpoint over the active volcano.