Sky Bath Mountain Lodge Hanayu

This was my first visit to Kumamoto Prefecture.It was also my first stay at this inn. I’ve stayed at many hot spring inns, and this one definitely ranks in my top three.As soon as we arrived by car, a staff member came out to welcome us and show us the way. Getting to our room was easy, with no chance of getting lost.The hallway flooring, perhaps tatami, felt soft and comfortable underfoot. Before I knew it, I was walking around barefoot or in socks rather than slippers or sandals, and it felt wonderful.The Japanese-style room was very relaxing.The open-air rock bath was fantastic! There were plenty of white mineral deposits in the water, and I loved the sulfur scent.We added locally grown kabosu citrus to the bath and enjoyed a relaxing soak. The warmed towels were also a lovely touch. I thought the washing area might be chilly, but the heater kept it comfortable both morning and night.We also tried an even larger open-air bath.I bathed about five times during our stay, and the warmth lingered long afterward.Another wonderful surprise was the unlimited ice cream!It was perfect after a bath. We also appreciated the unlimited drinks from the refrigerator.At dinner, we could even have unlimited refills of the beef for our sukiyaki, and we certainly enjoyed plenty! The freshly cooked rice served in its cooking pot was delicious too. We were absolutely full.It’s too far away for frequent visits, but I would love to stay here again. Thank you for your wonderful hospitality!

The room’s private hot spring bath was beautifully lit with bamboo lanterns. All the staff were very courteous and accommodating. The highlight was dinner—delicious from start to finish, with more food than we could finish. We were told we could have unlimited refills of meat for the final shabu-shabu course, but we were too full to manage any more, tempting as it was. We’ll definitely be back.