Kirishima Kanko Hotel

The onsen was fantastic and breakfast was wonderful, but we had a couple of problems. We booked a non-smoking room, yet it smelled of smoke, and our clothes picked up the smell too. Before arriving, we called to ask whether snow tires were needed. We didn’t get a clear answer and were told studless tires would be fine to skip. It snowed heavily while we were there, though, and we couldn’t drive around the area.

The rooms were huge and comfortable, and the meals were amazing. Service was friendly, and I really liked the dining room. It’s a five-minute walk to the touring bus station, which took us to some great hiking spots. I had a great stay and can’t wait to come back.

The rooms were comfortable and the facilities were good. Food quality was high, though breakfast is more of a buffet and can get really crowded. There are two public baths, plus a private one you can book. When we went, it cost ¥2200 for just under an hour, but the price could be cut in half by following them on Instagram. Even with that, it felt a little steep.

We stayed one night in the south building, in a comfortable modern Japanese-style room with a private bath. It had tea, hot water, and a couple of welcome snacks. We hadn’t booked a view, so our window faced a dog park, but it didn’t really bother us. There was one flight of stairs, and the staff helped with our bags; a small lift served our floor. The buildings connect indoors, so there was no need to go outside, though there’s no step-free access between them. That could be difficult if your room isn’t in the main building. For dinner we had shabu shabu kaiseki. I don’t eat meat, so I’d asked in advance for fish and prawn instead for some courses. It was tasty, and our server was attentive and pleasant to talk with. We missed breakfast, so I can’t comment on it. Tattoos aren’t allowed in the public onsen. I saw a review mention the smell. It’s sulphur from the hot spring water, which is expected in a spa town; I didn’t notice it in our room. I’d recommend the place for a traditional experience, but it’s a bit remote. We managed to take the Kagoshima airport bus, though it doesn’t run very often, so plan ahead.