Yamaga Onsen Fuji Hotel

The price was good, the bath was nice, and the dishes were wonderful. The road and surroundings were comfortable too. Could do with fewer bugs, maybe.

Jan 31-Feb 1, 2026. The hotel is old, but clean and really comfortable. It’s in the middle of Yamaga Onsen, close to Yachiyoza, Sakurayu, and a 7-Eleven. There’s free Wi-Fi, an electric car charger, and all the amenities you need, though there aren’t many power outlets. I wish the refrigerator had been cold when I arrived, since it was unplugged. The 5th-floor bath is free-flowing and kept a little warm, so you can stay in for a long time. The water left my skin smooth. There’s no sauna or outdoor bath. A high wall divides the men’s and women’s sides, which gives the place a nostalgic feel and lets families talk across it. There’s a hair dryer. Yamaga and Hirayama have great water. It’s mildly alkaline, and I don’t get tired even after a long soak. I think it helps with my whiplash and chronic knee ligament problems. My skin gets so smooth I forget to put on lotion. Dinner was standard but filling, with sashimi, hot pot, and kamameshi. Everything tasted good. The staff were kind and attentive, and I felt at ease. I highly recommend it!

The room was spacious, with a separate bedroom as well as a large Japanese-style room and a comfortable sofa by the window. Both the indoor bath and the open-air one were roomy, and the thick, cool water let me soak for ages. For the room, baths, and meals, it felt like very good value, and I had a great time. The staff were all very kind. Dinner was delicious, including the horse sashimi I tried for the first time. Nearly everything was brought out at the start, and since I don’t drink, I appreciated that the kamameshi was ready when I sat down. The portions were just right. I’d recommend staying here.

The hot spring was the one thing I liked. It even felt as if the hot spring water came out of the shower, though the water pressure was weak and a bit annoying. I wouldn’t count on much from the food. If you’ve come all the way to Kumamoto hoping for something tasty, I’d go to a nearby izakaya instead. The low chair in the room had such a flimsy cushion that it hurt to sit on. The futon wasn’t great either. I’m about 175cm tall, and the duvet was so short that my feet stuck out. I had some issues with the staff too. At breakfast you can serve yourself coffee and juice. When I asked if they had milk, I got a grin and, “We don’t have any! People say that a lot.” Maybe that was just a normal reply, but that’s how it came across to me. I thought they had no intention of making things better.