Jigoku Onsen Seifuso

Although I was worried about the earthquake’s impact, I decided to visit from Kumamoto Airport. Perhaps because a week had passed since the quake, I hardly noticed any effects and was able to stay with peace of mind. Above all, I was amazed by how delicious the meals were. Dinner featured duck hot pot, miso soup, and rice cooked in a traditional pot; breakfast included nori seaweed, natto, and French toast. Every dish felt heartfelt, and I ended up eating far more than I expected. The Onsen was just as described in advance and helped relieve my fatigue. It was a truly satisfying stay.Lastly, I asked about the period “.” after Seifuso’s name that had caught my attention. Despite all the hardships you have faced—including the earthquake—I was deeply moved to hear that it represents putting a “.” (period) on these hardships and creating a new Seifuso going forward. Thank you very much. If I have the chance, I would love to stay again.

This is a truly wonderful Accommodation, and its appeal is elevated even further by the cuisine and the Room. The private, standalone Room is beautifully designed, and having access to your own natural hot spring source is absolutely worth it. Above all, the owner-chef’s stories, irori hearth cooking, and passion are outstanding. We stayed for 2 nights and also enjoyed the duck hot pot, but having the irori meal on the first night made a huge difference in how deeply satisfied we felt. Hearing about the 2016 earthquake and the recovery since then—how it connects to today, along with the Accommodation’s history and philosophy—was deeply moving. The ingredients, attention to detail, how much time and effort goes into each dish, and even the connections with local people—all of these stories multiplied the value of our stay many times over. Of course, the ingredients and food themselves are exceptional. Every dish was something you can only experience here. Even the chef’s nostalgic dumplings were fun and delicious. Understanding more about each ingredient—and learning what went into it—made every dish satisfying beyond just taste alone. They are also very particular about sake; hearing the background stories and receiving recommendations was especially enjoyable for my husband (a big sake fan). He drank more than usual. They even told us where we could buy them locally, which made us feel their love for the region as well. It reminded us what it truly means to pay for real value. If you stay here, I highly recommend experiencing an irori meal—especially on your first night if you’re planning a Multiple Night Stay. All of the staff were pleasant as well; it’s family-run, and it was lovely that their son is in charge of coffee service too. Breakfast was also a luxury—enjoying charcoal-grilled dishes from early morning is not something you can easily experience elsewhere. Their commitment to rice is incredible; for the first time ever I felt I could eat rice just by itself because it was so good. That said, both breakfast and dinner are quite generous portions, so unless you have a big appetite it may be hard to finish everything—I think a smaller-portion Plan would be helpful too. I also learned for the first time how well French toast pairs with olive oil! It was a nice touch that our name was written at our parking space—many places leave you unsure where to park. The large bath area—with three different temperature baths—is fun as well, but this is an Accommodation where I’d love to relax in one of their detached Rooms again for at least two nights or more. With another earthquake having occurred in Kumamoto recently I can’t imagine what conditions are like there now, but I truly hope to visit again—and until then I want to recommend this place so that many others will come support them too."""