[2025 Minamioguni Stay] Travel Guide for Kurokawa Onsen Oku No Yu (Updated Jun)

#黑川温泉 is a hot spring resort in Aso City, Kumamoto Prefecture. The hotel is surrounded by lush mountains. On a trip to the open-air bath hot spring, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery that changes with the seasons and the rich qualities of spring. #黑川奥之浴温泉酒店 is located on the banks of the Wanglong River, surrounded by the tranquil natural scenery of the Kurokawa Hot Spring area. The hotel offers charming Japanese-style accommodation, a variety of hot springs and an indoor heated swimming pool. Each room offers a leisurely and relaxing atmosphere. During their stay at Oku-no-Yu Onsen Hotel, guests can enjoy large mixed-gender open-air baths such as cave baths and river baths. It is a very traditional Japanese hot spring hotel and is highly recommended.

#CanadaFlightEvent A quiet place where you can enjoy an open-air bath while looking at the valley that crosses the small hot spring village hidden in the forest.

Nestled deep in the mountains of Kurokawa Onsen in Kumamoto Prefecture, Okunoyu is one of the most famous and tranquil hot spring resorts in the region. Offering a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life, Okunoyu provides an authentic Japanese onsen experience, set against a backdrop of lush nature and serene landscapes. Okunoyu is located in a secluded area, surrounded by dense forests and beautiful mountain views. The resort’s secluded setting makes it ideal for those seeking relaxation and peace in nature. The rustic, traditional atmosphere of the onsen blends harmoniously with the surrounding environment, creating a peaceful, restorative experience. The natural hot spring waters, rich in minerals, are known for their soothing properties, which can help rejuvenate the body and mind. One of the highlights of Okunoyu is its outdoor baths, which are strategically placed to offer stunning views of the forest and the surrounding mountains. Bathers can relax in the warm, therapeutic waters while taking in the breathtaking sights of nature. The baths are designed to offer privacy and tranquility, making it feel like a personal escape into a secluded paradise. Okunoyu offers a truly traditional Japanese onsen experience. The baths are made of natural stone, and the onsen water is sourced directly from the local hot spring source, which is known for its high-quality, therapeutic effects. In addition to the outdoor baths, there are also indoor baths available, each designed to enhance the calming and rejuvenating effects of the onsen experience. Whether you choose to relax in the private outdoor tubs or enjoy the communal indoor baths, Okunoyu offers a serene, authentic experience. While Okunoyu itself is a tranquil retreat, visitors can also explore the surrounding Kurokawa Onsen Town. Known for its collection of over 20 different onsens, Kurokawa is a charming hot spring village that allows visitors to experience multiple baths using the town’s famous “onsen-hopping” pass. The town’s quaint atmosphere, with its traditional wooden buildings and narrow, scenic streets, offers a step back in time. Whether you’re looking to relax in soothing waters, enjoy the stunning mountain views, or simply escape the stresses of everyday life, Kurokawa Onsen Okunoyu is the perfect place to experience the healing power of nature and Japanese hot springs. #japantrip

After visiting all the hotels in Kurokawa, I found that they all have a bit of history, that is, they are a bit old, which is understandable, after all, it is one of the traditional hot spring resorts. 🛎The service of the staff is very good. If the parking space is full, just give the car key to the staff and they will help you park the car. Before checking in in the morning, I found that my car was already parked at the main entrance. ♨️Tried several private baths: Hinoki, near our room: a bit old, only one indoor pool, no open-air pool; Bamboo: next to the big bath, also a bit old, with one indoor and one outdoor pool; Family Private Bath: the largest of all the private baths, and fully equipped with bathing supplies and tools, with one indoor and one outdoor pool. The outdoor scenery is great, you can look at the stream while bathing. ♨️The best place to soak is of course the big bath. There were two pools on the women's side, one was a cold pool and the other was too hot. I couldn't stand it in less than a minute. There is also a sauna room, which is my favorite. You have to bathe naked in the mixed bathing area. You can cover yourself with a towel when entering. It depends on whether you have the courage to go to the big bathing area. Of course, the scenery is the best in the whole museum, especially the outermost river pond overlooking the stream and a small waterfall. When I went there twice, morning and evening, there was no one else there, just our family, so it was very comfortable to soak. The cave hot spring is also in the large public bath. In fact, the water quality is no different from that outside, but it is a little special. After leaving Kurokawa, I went to several hot spring areas and felt that the hot spring water in Kurokawa was the most comfortable. 🏊I went there for the only hot spring pool in Kurokawa, but was a little disappointed. The swimming pool is old, small, shallow and can't swim at all, and the water temperature is not hot enough. The attached rock bath was also closed. 🥣The food is good, it's traditional Kaiseki cuisine, the presentation is exquisite. I don't usually eat those Japanese-style food, but the food here is edible, I ate it all. The rice was delicious, and several of us had more rice in the morning and evening. The view from the restaurant is great, and it's especially pleasant to look out over the courtyard (the restaurant on the other side has no view, probably because we were staying in a single-family villa, so we were arranged to the restaurant on the side with a view). 🏮Kurokawa Onsen Street has seasonal lights at night. It takes about 10 minutes to walk from the hotel. There are no street lights along the way and the road is very dark. If you want to see the lights, it would be more convenient to stay in the hot spring street. #Kurokawa Onsen #One night and two meals #Oku-no-Yu