Nonohana Inn

Our 67-square-meter house was called Shion. It had two Western-style beds, a private onsen bath, a traditional Japanese room with floor seating, another room with Western seating and a massage chair, plus a small kitchenette and toilet. We had a rental car, which made things easy. Mount Aso is in the region and we went there after our stay at nonohana, but transport could be less convenient without a car. We stayed one night in early April 2025 and had a lovely time. The staff were wonderful and tried hard to communicate despite our not speaking Japanese. The food was delicious, and we used the private onsen several times. It’s hot, so if you’re not used to that, try a hot spring before booking a ryokan with a private one, so you can enjoy it fully. If you’re accustomed to a Finnish sauna or similar, you should be fine. If you can afford a night at a traditional luxury ryokan, Nonohana is a great choice.

The garden design and autumn foliage were lovely, and a creek ran nearby. The whole setting felt peaceful and beautiful. Our room, Benifuji, was spacious and had both indoor and outdoor onsens, which our group used as often as we liked. The meals were delicious, and the staff were polite and attentive. We visited on 11/30/2024. Nonohana is in a remote area, not especially close to Kurokawa Onsen. Would I come back? Definitely yes.

We took the bus from Kumamoto or Hakata to get here, then called when we reached the bus station in Kurokawa Onsen and they picked us up. It’s good value for money, and I’d highly recommend it for Japanese hot springs, hospitality and food. The place feels very private, so you hardly see other guests. Each detached house has its own hot spring pool, with water reaching up to 80° C, and there’s also a beautiful public bath. Non-guests may be able to pay for a day bath. Soaking in the natural spring while looking at the trees and vegetation and listening to crickets and cicadas felt close to heaven. The rooms are large and set in nature, the service is great, and the food was excellent. It’s served in separate private rooms, so you can also come just for a meal.

We had three sets of yukata, and meals were served in a private room. The ryokan staff were very friendly, and the property was surrounded by beautiful momiji. It’s worth taking a walk around and snapping some pictures. The concierge was helpful, too, booking us a kart rental and a private onsen at a hotel in the same group for free. The upstairs had a big bedroom with two beds, a TV and one toilet, though it was a bit dark and cold. I preferred downstairs, but that toilet was dark too, and the washbasin and pantry were right outside. We didn’t try the massage chair or walk around the little garden. We did spot two deer moving around the bushes, and the partly open onsenbath beside the garden meant we could see deer while bathing. We didn’t use most of the space, but my kid loved running around and playing with the sliding doors.