Yamamizuki Bettei
C · 6.7 / 10situational
A rustic detached-villa sister to Kurokawa's renowned Yamamizuki, and the thread's standing recommendation once you accept that after Takefue and Gosho Gekkoju the area's luxury drops off steeply. KI-NRT stayed in 2016 and still recommends it, and a 2025 member couple knew it was not properly luxurious going in, liked the scenery, found the food forgettable and would only return in nicer weather. KI-NRT's advice is to get the C-type villa with its own indoor and outdoor onsen, and the village is a stronger reason to stay than the kitchen.
Scores
Food 3 / 5
The food was nothing special on jpit2107's January 2025 stay, and nobody else in the thread has described a meal here.
Bath 4 / 5
Kurokawa is an onsen town, and the C-type room has its own indoor and outdoor onsen baths, which KI-NRT says you really should get if you can. Nobody in the thread describes the baths in any detail.
Service
Nobody in the thread has written about the service here.
Room 3.5 / 5
The rooms are detached villas, which matters in Kurokawa because most buildings in the area are wood with thin sound insulation (the renowned main Yamamizuki included), so here you are assured of peace and quiet. KI-NRT calls the place quirky and says to get the C-type room with its indoor and outdoor onsen. jpit2107 found an Edo-period feel in January 2025, but the heating system whined.
Place 4 / 5
Yamamizuki Bettei is the thread's top pick for a scenic, rustic stay in Kurokawa Onsen, where KI-NRT says the luxury drops off steeply after Takefue and Gosho Gekkoju but the area is full of charming and rustic ryokans. jpit2107 chose it on that basis in January 2025 and would come back only in nicer weather.
Getting there
- Fukuoka — 2h40, 0 transfers. Direct highway bus Fukuoka to Kurokawa Onsen (~2.7 hr).
- Kagoshima — 3h20, 1 transfer. Shinkansen toward Kumamoto, then ~2 hr by car up to Kurokawa Onsen.
- Nagasaki — 4h35, 2 transfers