Hinagu Onsen Hiraya Hotel

The water felt wonderful, and when I visited there were banpeiyu fruits floating in it. Their fragrance was so relaxing. This is a long-established inn in Hinagu Onsen, so it’s a bit old.

The proprietresses’ hospitality stood out, and I was satisfied with the whole stay. The meals were delicious seasonal Japanese dishes, served in a private room. I also found the rock and cypress baths deeply relaxing. The futons were fluffy, high-quality Nishikawa ones. Though the building has a retro Showa-era look, our room was very comfortable, with freshly replaced tatami, sliding doors, and shoji screens.

The hot springs were great, and switching the men’s and women’s baths between evening and morning meant I could try both. The room, towels, and futons were quite old and worn. Still, they had slippers for the children, and it was nice that small dogs could stay in the room. This was my first time at a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) this old. There was a big hall that must once have been busy with tour groups, and I can only imagine how much it costs to maintain.

I’m writing this so nobody else has to go through the same painful stay. The inn was the oldest I’ve ever stayed in, and the floors and walls were somewhat damaged, with only temporary repairs. The room walls were thin enough that we could hear the family next door talking. In the bathroom, blocks and stones about 40 cm across lined the floor, and they moved around. I worried my children might get hurt and couldn’t relax at all. I can’t believe Kumamoto Prefecture would issue a business license for an inn in this condition. The room only cost 8,000 yen per person. I gave it two stars for the kind landlady and the location near the highway interchange. I’ll never stay here again.