Tinkuna

The only thing that disappointed me a little was the bathroom. It was small and felt gloomy, a bit like a business hotel, so after a long day I couldn’t really relax there. (laughs) We came this spring while traveling around Kyushu. The place was clean and charming, and both the exterior and garden were well kept. The food was delicious and beautifully arranged, better than I’d expect at a guesthouse. The owner seemed to be from Hokkaido, since they were selling pottery and coffee cups. Seeing that in Kumamoto surprised me, but it made for a nice mix of northern and southern styles.

Maybe I was there at a bad time, but the whole building smelled like sewage, and I couldn’t sleep at all. After dinner, the sewer smell was everywhere, even in my room. The dining hall was the only place that seemed okay. I wonder if the toilets were causing it.

There’s not much nearby, but they do have games like UNO, Othello and shogi. It was nice to spend time talking with people I wouldn’t normally meet. The owner is a great talker too, so this place suits anyone who likes a friendly atmosphere. Our deluxe room was just right for three in the family, though it might feel cramped with five or more. We were only there to sleep, so it worked for us. The room had toothbrushes and towels, but no samue or pajamas, so bring your own. We had dinner only, no breakfast, and paid just over 32,000 yen. That felt expensive for a pension, and I’ve had better experiences at hot spring inns, like taking a morning bath. Maybe this place is aimed more at younger people. Based on my previous post, it seems first-time guests get the same food. It was generally quite salty. The salmon chanchanyaki was tasty, but felt like home cooking. The red-wine-braised cheek meat at the end was hard to eat without rice, and because I’d expected a lot from the food, I was a bit disappointed. The kids’ lunch was a ready-made hamburger steak with cheese and demi-glace, spaghetti with broccoli, two rice balls and salad. Dinner was itemized at 5,500 yen including tax and service, so at around 10,000 yen for two people, I’d personally consider staying overnight and eating at other good restaurants if there are any. That’s my honest take. Thanks for hosting us.

Traveling with my 2-year-old, I felt really at ease here. The owner was thoughtful both at dinner and breakfast. When my child got fussy during dinner, the owner lent us a handmade toy made from a plastic bottle. After a while, my child started crying again, so the owner put on an Anpanman DVD in the common room next door. The adults had to take turns eating, but we could still enjoy our meal at our own pace. The same thing happened at breakfast, and even though it seemed to take us much longer than the other guests, we didn’t feel rushed. Meals often have to be quick when you have a child, so being able to eat slowly was memorable. The inn was very child-friendly, and the owner’s kindness reassured me as a parent. We were very satisfied, and I wanted to leave a review.