Blog Full

Last updated on May 16th, 2026

Enjoy the tranquil outdoor bath is one of the must try when visiting Kurokawa onsen. We had onsen hopping in Yamamizuki ryokan, the most beautiful outdoor bath with natural settling in Kurokawa onsen.

By using the onsen hopping pass, visitors can freely access to three different onsen of your choice. Our onsen hopping in Kurokawa onsen started with Yamamizuki (山水木日式旅館). It is best known for the open-air outdoor bath (rotenburo). The outdoor onsen bath is located beside the running river, boasted by the picturesque natural view.

How To Get To Yamamizuki Ryokan

While the location is slightly away from town with 10 minutes drive or 30 minutes of walking distance required. However, Yamamizuki ryokan provides free shuttle service every 30 minutes in the daytime even for non-hotel guest. Thumb up for Japanese service.

The pickup location is located in front of Tsukemonoya Pickles Shop (漬物屋平野商店つけものや), opposite the tourist information center. Just walked out to the street and turn right and you will find it. There were benches available while waiting for the shuttle bus.

Without a long wait, the shuttle van arrived. The driver is very friendly and can speak English. We double confirm on the service and boarded the shuttle van.

The shuttle service started from 11:00 morning until 17:45 evening, with 30 minutes interval. The journey to the Yamamizuki took less than 15 minutes. The road is quite narrow and only one car can pass each time.

Daytime Access

Soon, we arrived after pass through the wood. Follow the sign, day-trippers are entered through the side entrance to the bathing area. Even the walking path is beautifully decorated in Japanese Zen touch. We in high confidence that this must be a great onsen bath experience.

The entrance is the “Inoya” Coffee shop with several rows of lockers available for onsen hoppers. There are free locker service for your belonging but you will need to bring your towel. Else, you can get the towel at 300 yen.

We had our stamping on the wooden pass and ready for our first onsen hopping at Yamamizuki.

From the coffee shop, we followed the beautiful path which lead us to the entrance of the bathing area. While two of us are ladies, so sorry that we can’t comment on the men bath.

Difference entrance for hotel guests and day-tripper into bathing area in Yamamizuki. For the daytime access visitor, please enter via Morinoya (purple color).

The changing area are pretty clean and well-equipped. There are hairdryers, make-up mirrors with a proper seating area. Proper toilet available inside. Added, shampoo and conditional available at the shower area.

Compare with other day access onsen bath that we tried on, Yamamizuki’s changing room is the most well equipped and spacious.

Note: No photography allow beyond this point. Below onsen photo taken from Yamamizuki website.

Open-air Outdoor Onsen Bath

The outdoor open-air bath is very spacious and located directly on the riverbank. You can enjoy the natural hot spring water while listening to the birds chirping in the woods. It’s a fabulous experience!

There is also an indoor bath available for day-trippers, but we preferred the outdoor option the most. This was one of the highlights of our trip to Kyushu. We spent over an hour soaking in the onsen bath at Yamamizuki, truly enjoying the experience. It’s the best place to experience hot springs in a natural setting. I highly recommend it as one of the top choices for onsen hopping in Kurokawa Onsen.

Daytime Admission to Yamamizuki: 600 yen
Overnight Stay: From 17,000 yen per person, including 2 meals
Check Hotel Rate: Trip.com | Agoda.com

Last but not least, don’t forget to check our Best Ryokan List: Where To Stay in Kurokawa Onsen if you are looking for the best hotel for your perfect stay in Kurokawa Onsen.

Related Kurokawa Onsen travel post:

Travel to Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Aso, and other attractions in Kyushu? Read on our below travelogue below.

How To Plan Your Kyushu Itinerary: Ultimate Guide

Northern Kyushu (Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Kurokawa Onsen, Beppu, Yufuin, Kitakyushu, and more):

Southern Kyushu (Miyazaki, Takachiho Gorge):

Last updated on May 16th, 2026

Read on our wonderful stay in Ryokan Ikoi, a wonderful traditional old Japanese-style hotel with long wood corridor, ash-fireplace and hot spring bath with a thatched roof. A best stay in Kurokawa onsen.

For the first time to Kumamoto onsen, consider to stay one night in a traditional ryokan and experience the popular hot spring bath. There are a variety of ryokan up to to 24 ryokan to choose from. Each has its own unique and beautiful hot spring bath to try on. We spend one night in Ryokan Ikoi and truly enjoy our amazing stay here.

See how we enjoy our one night in Ikoi Ryokan.

Ryokan Ikoi

The traditional Japanese guest house, Ryokan Ikoi (いこい旅館) is an atmospheric old inn in a central location of Kurokawa onsen. It is a wooden three-story inn which established more than 50 years ago. The best place to stay in Kurokawa onsen if you love to experience the traditional Japanese stay.

We fall in love before stepped into the hotel. The entrance is beautifully decorated in a Zen garden feeling. Hot water gushing into round stone in the corner and you can get the onsen egg at 50 yen. Free footbath if you are not enough for the bathing.

Moreover, the courtyard featured with traditional ash-fireplace. This is one of the favorite places in Ikoi Ryokan. We sat around at the central fireplace during night time. Doing nothing but admiring the kettle hanging over it with open fire.

Once we stepped into the ryokan, we received a friendly welcome from the staff. The whole building is well maintained in a warm ambiance. While there were still early for the check-in time, we leave our luggage and went for the onsen hopping. In late afternoon, we backed to ryokan Ikoi and continue soaking into the hot spring.

The Ikoi Ryokan also welcome daytime admission with 500 yen or enter with onsen hopping pass. But there are less choice compare with in-house guest.

Onsen Bath in Ikoi Ryokan

For sure onsen lovers will enjoy their stay in Ikoi Ryokan. There are a total of 13 different types of hot spring baths at Ikoi Ryokan. Three baths were listed in Japan’s Best Onsen Ranking which is rotenburo, Takino-yu, and Bijin-yu.

Onsen Lover don’t miss it. The beauty bath (Bijin-yu) is good for ladies’ skin. I feel warmed and beautified (maybe) after soaking into the water.

We prefer for the standing bath (Tachi-yu) among all. It is also the most famous onsen bath in Ryokan Ikoi. As per the name called, the water level is up to the shoulder level and guest will need to stand while enjoying the bath. I enjoy my time holding and draping my arm onto the suspended floating bamboo poles.

There are also a few mix gender baths such as Taki-no (waterfall bath) and Utase-yu (Hot Spring Fall) and Boxy bath (Hako-yu). I am not a fan of mix bath so I skipped for this. Probably more suitable for men.

Besides, there are several private and family baths available with reservation required. We tried on the Oke-buro where you can soak into a barrel with gushing hot spring water. Darken wood barrel fitted perfectly my imagination on Japanese traditional onsen bath.

Non-in-house guests can also rent on it with 800 yen for one hour.

Delicious Kaiseki Meal

Don’t forget to include the meal course in your stay. The kaiseki meal in Ryokan Ikoi makes your stay even more special. We had dinner and a breakfast plan in Ryokan Ikoi.

Kaiseki dinner served was traditional Japanese food in multiple small dishes. The staff explained when serving the meal. The food quality was excellent and delicious.

While for the breakfast was served with seasonal local produce. We had grilled salmon, veggie and porridge for the great start of the day. A simple yet delicious meal.

Best Stay in Kurokawa Onsen

All in all, we had an amazing stay in Ryokan Ikoi. It is truly a traditional Japanese inn and beautiful in its simple way. Your stay is in wooden charming structure, narrow bamboo corridor, and hot spring bath with a thatched roof. We highly recommended Ikoi Ryokan if you are love for traditional settling. One of the best stay we had in Japan.

It is a popular ryokan in Kurokawa onsen and it took us some effort to book the room. We booked our room at Ryokan Ikoi from Agoda.com two months ago. Highly recommended to book early to avoid disappointment. (Check rate from Agoda.com)

Alternatively, check our Best Ryokan List: Where To Stay in Kurokawa Onsen if you are looking for the best hotel for your perfect stay in Kurokawa Onsen.

Kurokawa Onsen: A Guide To Natural Hot Spring Town

Travel to Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Aso, and other attractions in Kyushu? Read on our below travel blog below.