Hanashoan

The food was exquisite, and the whole place had a lovely wood scent. We had a room with a beautiful private garden and excellent bedding that gave us sweet dreams. The onsen was good too. It’s a stylish, comfortable hideaway, and all the lovely ladies working there made us feel warmly welcomed.

We were surprised and grateful when the ryokan kindly upgraded us to a deluxe room without us even asking. It was huge, spotless, and felt new, with lots of space and separate areas. We loved the large bath and the lovely garden outside. Hanashoan is about five minutes by car from Kurokawa onsen, so it’s a good fit if you want to stay nearby without the crowds and tight spaces. We’ll definitely return next time we’re in this part of Kyushu. I don’t usually review hotels, but had to write one for this place.

We only managed to book one night, though I’d meant to stay two. I’ll definitely come back if I visit this part of Japan again. We were in room 06 - Kaede on 20th Oct 2023, and the place and service went well beyond what I expected. It’s tucked deep in the mountains, with a focus on privacy. Our room was large and had a private zen garden, and the entrance was screened so people couldn’t peek in. There was also a private dining booth. It would suit couples or families looking for quiet away from the city. Nada, the shoulder-length-haired woman from Fukuoka, looked after us most of the time. Sorry if I’ve got her name spelled wrong. She showed us around the hotel and our room before we settled in, and it was a pleasure chatting with her over meals.

The rooms are comfortable, and the service is perfect. The ryokan has been rebuilt recently. Dinner was the one letdown, as it didn't measure up to other ryokan nearby.