Best Spa Hotel in Unzen

first impression will be ”bad” but after good relax in the onsen all is forgotten. Parking available at 500 yen over night Check in fast - NO English. They have all details that you might need written on big cards in English. Room is very big. Nice varenda. However smell of smoke of cigarette. Amenities - ok. Wifi - ok The onsen is in next building so you need to pass via the reception area. Also this is old place but have big windows and if you in day time you can enjoy the view. We did not took breakfast so no comment. As it is very cheap and the target is onsen I believe it give best value

This hotel booked in the name of the Secret Soup Association, 100% of the source confirmed that the quality of the spring did not say that there are three family soups, very private and very good experience. The hotel itself is small and exquisite, the decoration reveals the intention, the old and warm feeling. There is a Japanese girl who knows a little Chinese and is very cute!

We stayed at Iseya a whole week while visiting my partner’s son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren in a nearby town. We have stayed in Obama previously for the same reason, and the town was just as nice as we remembered. But this was the first time we had stayed at Iseya, and we are so glad we did. The ryokan has been there for centuries but was rebuilt in 2019 and now has all the modern comforts. The in-room private onsen is fantastic, real geothermal spring water, and really hot. The views and sunsets over Tachibana bay are great and we enjoyed watching the local older people play “grand golf” on the town playing field opposite the hotel (with the bay behind) every morning at 7 am. But it is the staff who really make the place special, so friendly, despite our very poor Japanese, and several speak good English. We really felt welcome, despite being the only foreigners staying there on most days. The breakfasts are fantastic, no need for lunch, and different every day. We ate there just one night and the meal was equally good. The housekeeping was immaculate. Overall highly recommended, and although not cheap, not vastly expensive either and definitely good value.

I was as little apprehensive staying here given the poor ratings, but I couldn't have been happier. Staff were friendly, and made an effort, although only 1 reception girl spoke any English. I had a Japanese style room overlooking the lake. It was massive, and very comfortable. The only issue was that the windows weren't double glazed, and it was freezing outside (-8c overnight), and the sitting area got extremely cold. I guess it doesn't normally get this cold though. The room was warm with the sliding doors closed. The onsen were perfectly acceptable. The rooftop one was great in the snow! I had half board. The food options were extensive at both breakfast and dinner. If you don't eat Japanese food the choice will be quite limited though. Good selection of free drinks, and decent selection of paid for alcoholic drinks. There's loads of common areas and places to relax. A previous commenter mentioned the long corridors, which is true, the wrong room can mean long walks to the onsen and restaurant. Overall, 5*. But remember this is a JAPANESE hotel, catering to domestic tourists, so don't expect an international style hotel!

highly recommended This year, the hotel with the best experience of ”one berth and two meals” in Kyushu, Unzen Fukudaya, has been managed by the family for 50 years, and is now the second-generation operation. Inquiries: info@fukudaya.co.jp The most important thing is that there is a patient and careful Chinese young couple working in the store, one is responsible for the front hall and the other is responsible for catering. Traffic problems. Dinner was good, sulphur springs were good, and it was not expensive to book a private pool, which was great. Very worthwhile hotel, will organize friends to go next time! Reminder, there are Island Rail 1-day or 2-day tickets sold in Isahaya (Adult 3500 / Child 1750 yen, including trains and cars). If you go directly to the hotel from Isahaya, it is recommended to take a bus directly in Isahaya , About 50 minutes. If you want to take a small yellow train deliberately, you must get to the main station Shimabara, change the bus in the direction of Unzen at the gate, and it will take 2 hours to get to the hotel.

Other reviews seem a bit old, but breakfast seems not to be provided now. I bought ingredients at a nearby supermarket without meals and made it a steamed dish, but it was a fun experience. One mistake was that I should have prepared seasonings (salt, mayonnaise, etc.). The staff will kindly teach you how to use the steamer. The room was a very clean room with a slightly spacious Japanese room of ３ F, but it faced the national highway on the west side of the building. There is only this road on the west side of the Shimabara Peninsula, so there is not much traffic, but cars and trucks were running at night. It seems better to avoid people who are concerned about noise. Or the room that does not face the national highway may be different. Also, the other side of the national highway is the sea, but the view is almost impossible because the government office is in front of you. The bath and sauna were good. I think people who are looking for a hot spring inn that can be cheap and self-sufficient can enjoy it.

Given how far away the island of Kyushu is from Tokyo and Osaka/Kyoto, my perception in the past was that of a backwater that lacked sophistication. After numerous trips to all of the Prefectures the past few years, I've come to the realization that it's rich in history, culture, nature and - yes - a wonderful gastronomic identify. Unzen Kyushu Hotel is yet another example of a Kyushu property offering a polished hard product, refined service levels and an incredible dining experience. The property was rebuilt from scratch several years ago, with visions of a modern boutique hotel but with contemporary furnishings with local art. They've done a wonderful job here - the buildings blend into the Unzen environment without dominating the landscape (it's right next to ”Unzen Jigoku,” aka ”Unzen Hell” hot springs.) From most of the rooms as well as the lounge area, you're treated to a front-row seat to the views of Unzen Hell, complete with the strong sulphur smell (which we like, to be honest.) The grounds are immaculately maintained, and it really is a tranquil environment that is at harmony with the area at large. We chose to spend our 3 nights in one of the ”Hanare” (detached and separate building) rooms since they provided more privacy and space, although it's at the expense of a view of Unzen Jigoku that other rooms offer. The Hanare room offers bedrooms that are segregated from the living room (a key for us), as well as both an indoor as well as outdoor (open-air) Onsen hot springs bath, which was wonderful. The other benefit of Hanare-staying guests - you get to dine in a separate area, and in a private room, which is important to us, especially during COVID times. As a bonus, for the entire time we were there, the wonderful manager of Unzen Kyushu Hotel (Mr. Taura) personally served us - what a treat! He's an encyclopedia of food knowledge (as well as the local ingredients), and was very enthusiastic in his work. One other major bonus of this hotel, which really delighted us.... the pace of the meals was the best we've ever experienced. Nowhere else have we enjoyed a 9+ course meal in 90 minutes. And it didn't feel rushed at all. It was perfectly paced. Your mileage will vary, and that will be the result of the attentive staff and kitchen, who are quietly monitoring the pace of your food consumption so that everything is served exactly when you'd like it to be. Unzen Kyushu Hotel offers a choice of Japanese and Western-Japanese fusion meals, both for dinner and breakfast. Given we were there for 3 nights, we went with Japanese - Fusion - Japanese, and we were happy with the choice. Everything was unique, varied and umami-filled, even for breakfast, and we felt the quality was up there with the best ryokans and hotels in Japan. By this time, we weren't surprised... Kyushu (and Nagasaki) has awesome seafood, vegetables and fruits (the latter two thanks to the fertile volcanic soil), so chefs have top-notch ingredients to play with. Something

It really seems like a better accommodation than I expected. The location is great with a view of the sea, cleanliness, facilities, breakfast, etc. There is no flaw. If I had to find a drawback, would it be that if I don't close the curtains, it's visible from the outside? I think this is the best accommodation in Obama.