Hotel 2-Star di Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan

Beautiful living room and lots of helpful information on Aso and the nearby regions. Would recommend to stay there for at least for a few days as it is worth it. The dorm rooms have comfortable beds and basic amenities. The headspace for dorm beds is high, I can actually sit upright without bumping my head. Bathrooms are extremely clean and they have a full kitchen and common area with games, cards, and a really warm wood stove. Go for a soak at the onsen across the street after a long day at Aso, you can get a discount if you purchase a ticket directly from the hostel.

The rooms had all the essentials and I really liked the small onsen. The only issue was the instability of the Wi-Fi which kept dropping off even after staff helped me connect to a new one. I came here during summer so I cannot comment on insulation during winter as you’re affectively sleeping in a container.

Despite our language barrier, the owner loves conversing with people, which is why he decided to open his guesthouse. He even recommended a little path that shows a great sunrise. I was greeted with some deers hopping in the distance at 6.30am. Truly magical and breathtaking. This is THE place for solo travellers. There’s a saying that it’s the people that makes the trip enjoyable and this place is proof. He charges for accommodation cheaply but offers beyond the cost, within his means happily. He loves anime like Attack on Titan and has watched Laputa 21 times. His hobbies include biking, hiking and has hiked Mt Kuju several times, Mt Aso too. He travelled to Vietnam Cambodia and Thailand solo trip too, and wants to do it again 3 years later. As my first time doing solo travelling, I couldn't be luckier than this to have met this wonderful host. I would say so far, my time spent in Kurokawa Onsen and together with the host is my whole trip’s highlight. I felt very safe and comfortable in this living space and truly enjoyed the nature surrounding it as well. I love the location of the guesthouse because I love walking and hiking. The main area of Kurokawa Onsen is quite a walk itself, so walking to the guesthouse was just extra leisure for me. Just make sure to follow google maps and the various sign boards he’s put up along the way! He offers a ride back and forth at 8.10am and 5pm to the main area anyway and to the supermarket if needed, very generous of him! Make sure to not be shy and chit-chat a lot with him! It was so much fun. The room was very cozy and with the 6 beds arranged, an extra 100 yen per night for the heater is totally reasonable to me! it felt like I was back to school and enjoyed the cleanliness and casualness of everything. Damn, this place has great interior design too. The lights have motion sensors, pretty cool! He also has his own little beautiful hot spring which you should pay extra if you want to bathe at night. Personally did not find the need after bathing at the town haha. Thank you for the comfort of home and lovely company!! I hope many people who enjoy company and nature stay here!! Highly recommended for at least 2 nights! The onsens are all very good and beautiful. I want to come again.

There is a parking space outside the hotel,  but the hotel does not have an elevator 😔,  The exhaust system is poor, the bathroom has a musty smell ,  It feels a little good,  The rest of the facilities have no big problems.

Although this hotel is a little far from Yutuyu 1.6. But other than that, this hotel is very good, regardless of the service attitude of the practitioners and the room facilities are very good.

Business trip is clean and comfortable overall Convenient supermarket/restaurant next to it

What a great experience! Very glad we spend one night at this unique place. The staff was extremely helpfull and kind. The rooms are very decent, considering it's an old sleeper train. Just keep in mind the rooms are quite narrow so there is not a lot of space to keep luggage in the room. And the other facilities (bathroom, common rooom) are not abundant, but clean and very much so sufficient for spending a night.

The hotel decoration for Christmas was superb & beautiful. Initially when we checked in, the passage way at level 2 had an unpleasant musty smell but a few hours later the smell was gone. I think the hotel should look into improving the ventilation & add some aromatic scent. The breakfast spread for 1320 yen was excellent. There were Japanese as well as Western food choices.