Properties with Onsen in Kutami

When searching for a ryokan with a private in room hot spring , (onsen), I came across Yanyanoyu and it’s a literal “Heaven on earth.” From the moment we arrived, the manager Kondo and the staff made us feel welcomed and went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable. I mentioned I lost my phone in Tokyo before arriving and Kondo took it upon himself to phone the police station to double check if my phone was turned in. There is a small bar/rest area where we had self serve alcohol and soft drinks, coffee, and sweets (due to it being the owner’s birthday month; lucky us)! We got to pick our own yukatas to wear and I was provided a small bag of Mimi (not sure the correct name) cosmetics that included face cream, lotion, and cleanser. We stayed in the room that starts with “Z” and it was very spacious. The hot spring bath was surrounded by lush garden and the cold water hose allowed us to tone down the bath water if it was too hot. I saw someone else complain about that shower temperature— that is false; you simply need to wait a few minutes for the shower water to heat up. Breakfast and dinner was immaculate; the chef studied in Italy and Japan so we had a fusion of Japanese/Italian meals; Kondo also served us drinks after each course! The dinner area faces a very intimate garden. Also, I appreciated the jazz music played throughout the Ryokan. Other attendants we’re very kind in providing us water and towels as needed. Additionally, Kondo took us to a local town, paid for our tickets to the museum and showed us local sites including cherry blossom lane. And when we needed to head to the airport, Kondo drove us himself. As an avid traveler, this ryokan is a gem providing 5 star service all while situated in a place that feels down to earth — and the employees that go above and beyond to display their kindness. We hope to come back! Arigatou ☺️

I like all in the property the cleanliness, politeness of the staff, and the customer services is good.

Parking. Onsen is clean and huge. Has sauna and cold bath. Tattoo is ok even though it says not ok. Most of the people at onsen has tattoo. Family friendly. Do not avail their breakfast buffet. Same price for kids and adults 2750 yen. Needs reservation. We reserved at 0800. Arrived at 0805 by 0835, food is gone. They’re putting away the food to get ready for lunch buffet. Not so much selections. The front desk does not speak english and will avoid talking to you. He does not entertain questions. The one helping to carry our bags speaks english and answers all our questions.

The bed was great, and even though I didn't speak Japanese they tried their best for me

The rooms were much better than we expected from the pictures. Everything is new, clean, the rooms were quiet and we could have a good sleep. Staff responded to all our requests. Location is convenient. There is a shuttle bus from the airport to the station, after that you walk for a few minutes to the hotel. You can find some restaurants in the area. Breakfast had a lot of vegetables and was healthy.

The top floor onsen is wonderful. it is small but very relaxing. Can feel the breeze at the outdoor onsen. The hotel provided free popsicles, probiotic drinks, and free ramen at night. Staffs are nice. the massage is great!

We spent two nights here as a couple. The staff greeted us kindly and were very accommodating and helpful. The property is beautiful and overlooks Mt.Aso. We decided to use the grill our first night and they set up everything for us and even recommended a store where we could go to buy meat and other supplies. (We forgot to buy grilling utensils, the staff let us borrow some :), but I would recommend bringing your own. The meat was delicious and it paired well with the atmosphere of the property. My husband and I don't speak Japanese really but the staff worked with us to communicate in Korean/English. We had the twin bed room and it was very nice. The beds were comfortable and the air conditioning made it very nice. The room had a bathtub and we took a bath both nights it was so relaxing. The whole cabin had a wonderful woody smell. After dinner we went outside and went star gazing. The night air was crisp and the sky was beautiful. Mosquitos were minimal and the night air was full of the sounds of the forest. We could even see the milky way! We also woke up early to watch the sunrise over Mount Aso right from the deck in front of our room. The view was breathtaking~ Overall I'd highly recommend staying here if you want to experience the Japanese countryside the right way!