Minami Aso Tawarayama Onsen Ryokan Chikurakutei

As soon as we arrived at the parking lot, Hotel staff came over and helped carry our luggage. The entrance, surrounded by trees, had a lovely atmosphere, and the Room felt comfortable with its modern Japanese style. The private open-air bath was pleasantly lukewarm—perfect for relaxing—while the large public bath was set to around 41°C, which felt just right. The water is clear and neutral in scent and taste, leaving a refreshing feeling after bathing.Dinner was a chef’s creative course menu, and each dish was carefully prepared—we were very satisfied. For us in our 60s, it was almost more than we could finish.The grounds are spacious, with spring water flowing into a pond with koi. The pathways are full of charm as well, but they are somewhat long and include slopes, so older guests should take care.At check-in you can receive feed for the ducks. Ducks (and cats) come close looking for food and are adorable, but they may compete for it; some guests were bitten when feeding directly from their hand, so please be careful.After an unexpected evening rain stopped, we looked outside late at night to find a sky full of stars. On clear summer nights, it seems you could lie back on the terrace couch and enjoy stargazing.I did wish the Room trash bin were a bit larger.The staff were thoughtful in many ways overall, making this a very pleasant stay.

The open-air bath attached to the Room was spacious, and there were also sun loungers, making it perfect for relaxing. The Room was clean and comfortable, and we had a pleasant stay. The service was polite and we were satisfied. The meals were delicious and luxurious; however, if I may be picky, the portions were too large. For guests in their 50s, about half would likely be enough to feel full. It would be even better if portion sizes could be adjusted.