Last updated on September 14th, 2024
If you’re looking for an amazing stay that offers an authentic onsen experience, Kirishima Hotel should be on your list.
Bathing in an onsen is one of the best things you can do when visiting Kirishima. Located at Kagoshima prefecture, Kirishima is a volcanically active region so there are thousands of hot spring facilities scattered throughout its area. Popular with both international and local tourists, it’s said that Kirishima onsens are one of the biggest drivers of domestic Japanese tourism, and I can see why.
When I visited Kirishima in one of my Kyushu itineraries, we explored the Kagoshima and made a visit to Kirishima. We stayed in Kirishima Hotel, one of the biggest and most popular hotels in Kirishima. The onsen experience was awesome and it turned out to be one of my most memorable onsen stays for my trips.
Read our Kirishima Hotel Review to know more details.
Kirishima Hotel
We stayed at Kirishima Hotel during our visit to Kirishima. It is a 4-star onsen resort that features an ultimate spa experience, with its sauna and hot spring bath. It has a theme park-like huge hot springs onsen baths for guests to soak in the natural hot spring.
There are a total of 14 different hot springs sources, offering four varieties of hot spring water.
The property is surrounded by approximately 30,000 century-old cedar trees. It has a peaceful environment and guests can enjoy the tranquil nature that surrounds it. The views are amazing and there is even a walk from the hotel to the surrounding woods.
Kirishima Hotel
Address: 899 – 6603 Kagoshima, Kirishima, Makizonocho Takachiho 3948, Japa
Check for room availability: Booking.com | Agoda.com
How To Get to Kirishima Hotel
Kirishima Hotel is located with short distance from Maruo station at Kirishima Onsen Market. The location is very convenient and easy to find. It can be easily reached by self-driving.
If you’re arriving by public bus, don’t worry because Kirishima Hotel offers a free pick-up service from the nearest bus stop. Take the Kagoshima Kotsu bus and get off at the Iwo Sulfur Valley (硫磺谷) bus stop.
The Kagoshima Kotsu bus Route#1 will take you from JR Kirishima Jingu station to Iwo Sulfur Valley at 30 minutes.
Next, from the bus stop walk for 2 minutes to the resting area and call reception for pick-up service. Alternatively, you can also walk 10 minutes uphill to the hotel.
As we will need to take the bus the next day, the staff will also advise on the bus timetable and confirm the check-out time for the shuttle arrangement. It will take you back to the bus station to continue your Kirishima itinerary.
Japanese Tatami Flooring Room
Depending on your preference, you can choose from rooms with traditional Japanese futon bedding or Western beds. We choose for traditional Japanese tatami flooring room for the ultimate stay experience.
Here’s our room. These traditional Japanese rooms all pretty much look like this. You’ll find a Japanese low-lying table with tatami mats over a heated floor. Those Japanese-style mattresses and futons are usually kept in the closet but they were already prepared and waiting for us after our Kaiseiki dinner.
The room has a balcony with a breathtaking view of the forest. The 100-year-old cedar forest and the location in the clouds with sulfur steam floating in the air. The view from the room was amazing
Awesome Onsen Experience
The highlight of Kirishima Hotel definitely has to be the onsen baths. There are a total of 14 different hot springs sources, offering four varieties of hot spring water for guests to try at Kirishima Hotel. It is an amusement park for onsen lovers and has several indoor and outdoor baths.
The public baths are divided into unisex, women-only, and men-only areas.
The most popular is the Large Garden Bath, with a 25 meters deep. It will gush out 50 drums of hot water per minute.
Note that the large garden bath is unisex so you are able to try out a unique experience. If you are not used to be unisex onsen experience, the onsen bath will be only available for women from 19:30 to 22:00.
Once we were settled into the room, we headed to the public bathing area. The public bath was a great experience for us during our stay at Kirishima Hotel. We were amazed and surprised at how spacious and spacious the hot springs were.
Kaiseiki Dinner
Our stay is half-board which includes dinner and breakfast. We enjoyed our dinner in an atmospheric dining room looking out onto a flood-lit forest.
Our dinner is served in the traditional ‘kaiseki ryori’ style.
The food was amazing serving excellent ingredients, beautifully cooked, and was served individually on the table with local delicacies. The exceptional presentation of the food is done with care in mind and features various dishes in a multi-course meal, giving you a chance to try a bit of everything.
Check out prices and room availability at the Kirishima Hotel here.
Back in my room, a soft futon had already been laid out on the tatami mats by the staff. I slipped into it and fell asleep while thinking about the wonderful memories of my trip to Kirishima.
Japanese Menu Breakfast
On the next day, the breakfast is buffet style with an authentic Japanese menu.
There are over 50 items available for the breakfast buffet and the quality was amazing for the incredible selections they offered.
We can taste most of the traditional local cuisine here and it was one of the best we’ve ever had.
Overall: A Stay at Kirishima Hotel
All in all, staying in a Kirishima Hotel is a unique and memorable experience. You’ll get to immerse yourself in Japanese culture and hospitality, from sleeping on traditional futon beds to enjoying the hot springs. It is the perfect place to relax and unwind after a day of exploring Kirishima.
In short, we were impressed by the Kirishima Hotel by its hot spring bath and facilities. One of the best hotel stays in Kirishima and is highly recommended!
Make sure to reserve early to secure your room: Booking.com | Agoda.com
Related Kirishima and Kagoshima Travel Blog:
- Kirishima Itinerary: A Travel Guide Blog
- Where To Stay in Kirishima: Best Onsen Hotel and Resort
- Kagoshima itinerary: A Travel Guide Blog
- Day Trip Sakurajima Itinerary: A Travel Guide Blog
- Where To Stay in Kagoshima: Best Areas and Hotels
Visiting Kyushu and looking for some inspiration for what to do in Kyushu then be sure to read our Kyushu travel blog here:
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