Kirishima Onsen Oyado Hana Mizuki

The food was the biggest surprise. Each dish was thoughtfully made and delicious, with much more care than the standard meals I’ve had at other ryokans. Our renovated room was spotless, modern, and spacious, and the hot spring water was excellent. Those qualities made the price feel very low for what we got, even though the facility itself is old and the first-floor onsen is small. The value exceeded my expectations, and I’d highly recommend it.

Dinner doesn't start until 8pm, which left me unable to unwind. The parking lot is also a long way off. I checked in at 4:15pm hoping to book the private bath, since I was told it could be used once an hour, but then was told it wasn't available until 5. We were given just 20 minutes and couldn't book another slot. There was no flexibility at all. The next morning I looked in and it was empty, so I wish they'd let me use it then. The drinks were barely fizzy, more like lemon water than lemon sour, and both the miso soup and tofu were cold. They said the soup had just been poured into the bowl with tofu and seaweed. One staff member's behavior made everyone around them, even relatives, uncomfortable. They need more training.

The private bath in our Sakura Room was just right temperature-wise, and the spring water was superb. The room was very clean, seemed recently renovated, and had a lovely rush-grass scent. I stayed one night with my mother, who has poor eyesight, and the staff were incredibly kind. When we arrived at 3 PM, I dropped her off by the entrance while I went to park, about 100m away. A man kindly took her hand and guided her to the lobby. There seemed to be only nine rooms, perhaps eight, and I saw just him and the waitress, but both were wonderful. Since it was a weekday, we had the public bath to ourselves and could soak away the day's fatigue. The meals were delicious and filling, and having a private dining room was a nice touch. The waitress was charming, and we had a lovely stay. At 26,000 yen per person, I think it's great value. I'd definitely like to return. P.S. They have Wi-Fi.

The private bath came with the price, and the water was so good I wished I'd used it more. I ended up bathing four times during our one-night stay. My room also had an open-air bath fed by a proper hot spring. I'd underestimated Kirishima Onsen. An acquaintance had described it as a deserted resort, but the baths were amazing, with a huge volume of water, lots of mineral deposits, and a strong sulfur smell. I stayed warm even after getting out, and felt my fatigue disappear. The meals were generous, with each dish carefully made and tasty. I'm a little worried the inn might close because it doesn't seem to have many employees. I hope it's still here when I come back. Keep it up!