I Looked Into Fujiya

Before I knew it, this blog had settled into a steady rhythm of researching ryokans and campsites one by one and turning them into articles. I do have a driver's license, but as someone who's basically an indoor type who rarely actually gets behind the wheel, digging into research that lets me feel like I've visited a place is honestly my favorite part.

This time, the place that caught my attention was a ryokan called Fujiya in Kurokawa Onsen. It seems to be eligible for the Kyushu Recovery Support discount, and Kurokawa Onsen itself is an area I hear about often, so I decided to look into what kind of ryokan it is.

A Ryokan with Just 8 Rooms, Each with a Different Character

Fujiya is apparently a ryokan located in Kurokawa Onsen, in Minamioguni, Aso District, Kumamoto Prefecture. It has 8 rooms total, and it seems like the lineup includes Japanese-style rooms and Japanese-modern Western-style rooms, each with its own distinct character. The atmosphere seems to change quite a bit depending on which room you stay in, even within the same ryokan, which might be the kind of setup that makes repeat guests want to try different rooms each time.

The layout of the building is a bit unusual too—apparently the front desk and dining area are on the first floor, and if you go down the stairs, there's a hot spring bath and lounge space. On the second floor, there's supposedly a library and a study, so it feels like just wandering around the building slowly could be enjoyable on its own.

As for reservations, the official site seems to recommend booking online. Phone reservations are apparently possible too (with listed reception hours). According to the pricing guide listed on the Kurokawa Onsen Tourism Ryokan Cooperative's official site, one night with two meals runs roughly 22,000 to 27,500 yen per person before tax, so it looks like there's some range depending on the plan. I couldn't find specific check-in and check-out times listed on the official site.

The Hot Springs and the Hidden Moon-Viewing Deck

The hot spring water reportedly comes out at 60 degrees Celsius and is slightly diluted before being used in a flow-through system, with a variety of baths and specialty bathing areas attached. True to a proper hot spring ryokan, it seems designed to let you enjoy hopping between different baths.

Personally, the thing that caught my attention the most was a hidden spot called the moon-viewing deck. It's apparently tucked away somewhere inconspicuous in the building, and from there you can gaze at the stars. In a mountainous area like Kurokawa Onsen, you'd probably get a night sky with fewer streetlights around, so my impression is that it's less about a photogenic spot and more about a place for quietly enjoying some time looking up at the stars.

As for the food, it's apparently creative kaiseki cuisine featuring seasonal ingredients from Kumamoto and Aso. The number of dishes and the main course content seem to vary depending on the plan, so it looks like a good idea to check which plan you're booking at the time of reservation.

Komorin

A ryokan where you can choose a different atmosphere for each room already gets my indoor-type imagination running wild. Just imagining spending time zoning out under the stars at that moon-viewing deck sounds pretty great.

What I Found Out About Access

When I checked the access page on the official site, it had guidance on taking the Sankou Bus from either Fukuoka Airport or Kumamoto Airport, along with a link to the bus timetable on the official site. There was also apparently a link to the JR Kyushu official site for routes using JR from Hakata Station or Kumamoto Station.

As for the name of the nearest bus stop, whether there's a shuttle service, or the specific travel time from each mode of transportation, I couldn't find any of that listed on the official site as far as I could tell. Similarly, there was no information available on whether parking exists or how many spaces there are. If you're thinking about accessing the ryokan by car, it might be worth confirming directly with the ryokan when you make your reservation.

• Access from airports: Guidance available for using the Sankou Bus from both Fukuoka Airport and Kumamoto Airport
• Access by rail: Route guidance available for using JR from Hakata Station and Kumamoto Station
• Parking: No mention on the official site of availability or number of spaces
• Shuttle service: No specific mention found

Rakuten Mobile Signal Conditions

I tried entering the address corresponding to Fujiya's location into the official "My Area Connectivity Simulation" tool, but no result came up—instead I got a message saying something like "currently undergoing temporary maintenance." It seems like this kind of message can appear when the address data for a location can't be found.

So for this overall assessment, I can't say it's either good or bad—I'll just share as-is that the result came back as "unknown." In a mountainous area like Kurokawa Onsen, signal conditions could vary depending on the exact spot, so if you're actually considering staying here, it's probably a good idea to check again before you head out.

Komorin

Honestly, when no result comes up, it actually makes me even more curious. Mountain ryokans often have uneven signal coverage, so I figured checking ahead of time is the best approach.

Wrapping Up

To sum it all up, my impression of Fujiya is a ryokan where all 8 rooms have a different feel, with a hidden moon-viewing deck where you can gaze at the stars—the kind of place where you could spend a quiet time that feels true to Kurokawa Onsen. The building also seems designed for a leisurely wander, from the dining area on the first floor to the hot spring downstairs and the library on the second floor, so there seem to be plenty of ways to enjoy the place beyond just the room itself.

On the other hand, finer details like parking, shuttle service, and check-in times couldn't be confirmed on the official site, and the Rakuten Mobile signal conditions also came back as undetermined on the tool. If that's something you're concerned about, you can check it yourself using the official Rakuten Mobile tool, so it might be worth doing that once before you finalize your travel plans.

This article includes a referral link for Rakuten Mobile's employee referral campaign. For details, please see our Disclaimer & Advertising Notice.

Related Links

• Official Site