Stay at Kinparo Ryokan in Yatsushiro

For a truly authentic Japanese experience during a visit to Japan it is highly recommended to stay at a traditional Japanese inn, known as a ‘ryokan’. There are plenty to choose from all over the country, from small ramshackle establishments in the countryside to modern and eye-wateringly expensive boutique-style hotels in swish downtown locations. The southern island of Kyushu is blessed with a balmy climate and an abundance of hot springs, and many ryokan here tend to have a rustic charm that is attractive to both Japanese and overseas visitors alike.

Stay at Kinparo Ryokan in Yatsushiro

The Kinparo Ryokan is one such establishment. Located in Yatsushiro City in Kumamoto Prefecture, this area of central Kyushu is famous for several delicacies such as the banpeiyu (a kind of oversized grapefruit), Karashi renkon (fried lotus root stuffed with a mustard and miso paste) and basashi, the Kumamoto speciality of raw horse meat.

Stay at Kinparo Ryokan in Yatsushiro

Kinparo Ryokan is a glorious old-style wooden building popular with guests for its communal and open-air baths and wonderful rustic atmosphere. The ryokan also serves as a hotel, and staying guests can enjoy a high-level of personal hospitality and service during their stay as there are only 14 guest rooms. From the impressive façade and beautifully polished wooden floors of the lobby, guests will feel like they have stepped back in time upon entering the building.

Stay at Kinparo Ryokan in Yatsushiro

The traditional wooden styling extends throughout the building, with spacious corridors leading to washitsu guestrooms which are simple, elegant and comfortable. Rooms feature tatami floors, low tables and sliding shoji paper doors, with thick, comfortable futons for sleeping laid out by the staff after dinner. Staying in a ryokan is very different to a night in a regular hotel, and this unique experience is often one of the most memorable parts of a trip to Japan for many guests.

Stay at Kinparo Ryokan in Yatsushiro

The Kinparo complex is centred around a beautifully manicured Japanese garden, bringing a wonderful sense of calmness and serenity to the surroundings. You don’t even need to venture outside as it can be viewed from many of the building’s corridors and guestrooms. While the ryokan has an old-style charm, it also has many modern amenities for guests, including TVs and refrigerators in the rooms and free wi-fi available in the lobby.

Stay at Kinparo Ryokan in Yatsushiro

What brings most people to Hinagu Onsen Kinparo (as it is also known) however are the baths, with segregated communal indoor and outdoor baths to choose from. Guests can soak in the revitalising waters which are said to be good for those with joint pain and poor circulation, before retreating to their rooms wearing the provided traditional yukata robes. Dinner is then served in-room, and consists of multiple dishes of the finest and freshest seasonal ingredients. There are also combined breakfast and dinner plans for added flexibility.

Stay at Kinparo Ryokan in Yatsushiro

Kinparo Ryokan is located close to the harbourfront just a 12 minute walk west of Hinaguonsen Station on the Hisatsu Orange Railway Line. From Kumamoto there are regular JR trains and shinkansen (bullet trains) to Yatsushiro (reached in around 35 minutes), where you can then change for the Hisatsu Orange Railway to Hinaguonsen (12 minutes). Check-in is from 3.30pm to 7pm, check-out is until 10am.

Hinaguonsen

Kumamoto Pref

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日奈久温泉 金波楼 食事処

熊本県八代市日奈久上西町336-3

0965-38-0611

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Hinagu Onsen

Kumamoto Yatsushiro-shi Hinagu

0965380267

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