2-Star Hotels in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan

"I have been staying in very special places in Japan: beautiful locations with lots of care and details but this one is my favorite so far! Yoshi and Myong made me feel super welcomed, comfy and happy in their guesthouse. I arrived with a BIG LUGAGGE which was right away taken up by Yoshi (thank you so much!!!) and when I left he reminded me I could ask for his help if I needed (which I did). I like to ”judge” a place by the comfiness of their sofas, and Aso Base delivered superb excellency! So many cozy corners, there's not even one futon that is not hyper soft! The bathrooms have some themes on the wall, one is the cat theme, another one jellyfish and the other is lizards, so I had fun time choosing what theme I would go to. The shower capsules have shampoo conditioner and soap and then an area to dry your hair with a great view! There's details that are just piece of art! A small corner with a table, cd player and CDs that are awesome- Japanese, international and relax music and audiobooks! I've searched many of them in Spotify and will keep listening. While you are listening there are some images, like a collage, and it's so well thought. Every image has a doll representing it live action as well, like dreams coming true. The kitchen is reeeeaallly equipped, drinking water at the tap and has lots of seasonings and teapots 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰 There's extra blankets and pillows and some of the pillows are animal shaped 😺🐶🐷🐑 so during my four nights there I slept in the company of Mr Snuggles, a grey cat that smiled with his eyes closed - there was pinky pig and hairy sheep too! in the female dorm every bed has a blue sky wallpaper like in Toy Story!!!! 🥹 I was a bit worried because the comments say there's lots of rules and that they are strict and don't open the door for people in the rain. But the thing is: there are some rules, because they are two people (+ another lady who helps with cleaning) taking care of a big house. It needs some organization and routines. They provide storage and the area has great options to enjoy while waiting - if necessary. Is a small town, many great restaurants around - the shop right next to the station that sells local products is a must trying repeatedly, the best onsen in the region is 3 minutes away, a Lawson across the street. I greatly enjoyed my time in Aso and everyday was glad to be going back to Aso Base. It is a place to come with a light and warm heart and soul ( they will certainly retribute), where you can have great conversations, play games or read a book, cozily nested and drinking tea while the fireplace and many lighting create a whole vibe. I've booked 4 nights and wish they were 8! Kamsahamnida and Domo Arigato, Myong and Yoshi!!!"

"The semi-open-air hot spring was fantastic! The wooden decor smelled wonderful. Parking was very convenient. Towels, yukatas, and flip-flops were provided for visiting Kurokawa Old Town. A microwave was also available, which was very convenient!"

"I really loved that there was a large public bath. If you take the limousine from Kumamoto Airport, there is a stop right in front of the hotel. It was very convenient and nice. You can walk to the city center, and it is enjoyable to look around the streets while traveling. I highly recommend it. I will visit again with my family next time."

"The service was absolutely incredible. The location was a bit awkward, being a 5-minute drive from Kurokawa Onsen (but a 30-minute walk). I emailed them beforehand to explain the situation and requested a pick-up, which they happily accommodated. We even missed our pre-booked highway bus from Fukuoka to Kurokawa and had to change the time on the day, but they still helped us. The highway bus was incredibly slow, making us 40 minutes late for our agreed-upon pick-up time. I almost teared up feeling both apologetic and grateful to the elderly owners, who helped us so kindly without showing any sign of inconvenience. I want to express my sincere gratitude again. Thank you so much! Thanks to them, my four friends and I had a wonderful trip in Kurokawa. The owner's wife advised us in Japanese to book a taxi for the evening from the information center. However, as our Japanese isn't very good, we kept putting it off and ended up not booking one. As a result, after finishing our onsen and dinner, my four friends and I had to walk for over 30 minutes along a dark forest road to get back to our accommodation ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ. For others, please make sure to book a taxi for your return trip at the information center as soon as you arrive at the onsen. It's a very rural area where you can't call for a taxi, and cars are rarely seen after 8 PM. Walking back to Mori No Cottage is just not something a person should do. It was so hard. It was dark, scary, and the uphill climb was exhausting. Aside from that, the accommodation itself was excellent. It was a wooden cottage, and I heard the owner's husband designed it himself. It was a very comfortable, clean, and pleasant place to stay. The next day, we had to return to Fukuoka, so they helped us with a pick-up to the highway bus stop at 9:30 AM. However, they dropped us off at the wrong spot, and it could have been a big problem if we hadn't moved to the correct location. We almost missed the bus again. I think there was a communication error because our Japanese isn't very good. It turns out we were supposed to get off at Fukuoka Airport, not Yufuin or Beppu. Thankfully, we managed to get to the correct stop, so there were no issues in the end. I think it's crucial for others to communicate very clearly. All in all, I was truly grateful and happy."

"Despite our language barrier, the owner loves conversing with people, which is why he decided to open his guesthouse. He even recommended a little path that shows a great sunrise. I was greeted with some deers hopping in the distance at 6.30am. Truly magical and breathtaking. This is THE place for solo travellers. There’s a saying that it’s the people that makes the trip enjoyable and this place is proof. He charges for accommodation cheaply but offers beyond the cost, within his means happily. He loves anime like Attack on Titan and has watched Laputa 21 times. His hobbies include biking, hiking and has hiked Mt Kuju several times, Mt Aso too. He travelled to Vietnam Cambodia and Thailand solo trip too, and wants to do it again 3 years later. As my first time doing solo travelling, I couldn't be luckier than this to have met this wonderful host. I would say so far, my time spent in Kurokawa Onsen and together with the host is my whole trip’s highlight. I felt very safe and comfortable in this living space and truly enjoyed the nature surrounding it as well. I love the location of the guesthouse because I love walking and hiking. The main area of Kurokawa Onsen is quite a walk itself, so walking to the guesthouse was just extra leisure for me. Just make sure to follow google maps and the various sign boards he’s put up along the way! He offers a ride back and forth at 8.10am and 5pm to the main area anyway and to the supermarket if needed, very generous of him! Make sure to not be shy and chit-chat a lot with him! It was so much fun. The room was very cozy and with the 6 beds arranged, an extra 100 yen per night for the heater is totally reasonable to me! it felt like I was back to school and enjoyed the cleanliness and casualness of everything. Damn, this place has great interior design too. The lights have motion sensors, pretty cool! He also has his own little beautiful hot spring which you should pay extra if you want to bathe at night. Personally did not find the need after bathing at the town haha. Thank you for the comfort of home and lovely company!! I hope many people who enjoy company and nature stay here!! Highly recommended for at least 2 nights! The onsens are all very good and beautiful. I want to come again."

"Room was comfortable and hotel had nice common spaces. Sink design a little bit tight. I chose a room with a mountain view but it was severely limited. As I was only staying one night, I didn't bother too much about it. You literally drive through a forest to get to the place. Just follow the kanji signs of in doubt."

"This is a hotel I would like to stay again. It is a nice clean hotel that is very value for money. It is also near to the station and if you drives the parking is free of charge. The hotel even provide breakfast for every guest. Although it is near to the train station, can't really hear much or any noise at all which may be due to the good sound proofing thus I have a good night rest. This is the place i can highly recommend if you plan to visit Mt. Aso and its vicinity. My only feedback is the double bed is bit small than a queen bed for my 1 night triple room that i booked. Overall the room size is sufficient for 3 pax and 3 luggages."

"It’s a good private house. But I’m won’t recommend if weather is cold or raining, or if you’re traveling with young kids. I travelled with my family with two toddlers. The bath and onsen are outdoors, not quite well lit and not well covered. The hot water water pressure is low, and the water is either very hot or very cold. It was a cold, raining and windy that night. It was a horrible experience for us because of the above, and the kids had a lot of trouble taking a bath. And we were worried they might catch a cold. And strangely the door lock of the bath is locked from the outside and not from the inside. Also remember to buy food before entering. We bought ours and cooked our own dinner. Otherwise, it’s a good private house, probably best for adults."

"They offer a wide variety of amenities and all-you-can-drink alcohol. The location is also great, near the shopping district. The prices are reasonable, so give it a try."