Dormy Inn Kumamoto Natural Hot Spring

Kumamoto is mainly for visiting Aso, right? I booked the Aso Boy train and bought a lot of cute merchandise. The crater was still closed, but Kusasenri was really nice. The vast green fields reminded me of Inner Mongolia, haha.

The hotel's location is super convenient, right above a tram and bus stop, making getting around a breeze. They also offer free ramen and ice cream at night, which are thoughtful touches that really enhance the stay. Overall, I was more satisfied than I expected.

Stayed at Dormy Inn again. The Kumamoto Dormy Inn is right opposite the Sakuramachi Bus Terminal, making it super convenient for shopping (there's a tax-free Montbell!) or getting around by bus or tram. Besides the complimentary late-night ramen and ice cream, the breakfast offers a great variety of local dishes. The Takana Meshi, Taihei-en, and Ikinari Dango (highly recommended!) were all first-time tries for me. If you're staying multiple nights and need room cleaning, remember to inform the front desk.

First off, I strongly *do not* recommend this hotel; it was the biggest letdown of our entire Japan trip. Pros: It's very close to Sakuramachi Bus Terminal and the main shopping street. Kumamoto Hall is right across the street. The hotel has a hot spring and offers ice cream. There's also complimentary ramen in the evening. Cons: The staff's attitude at check-in was incredibly cold. After checking in, this was the first time I've ever encountered such a dirty hotel in Japan. The toilet flush buttons were dusty, there were short hairs on the shower floor, and the room itself was tiny with a distinct musty smell. The toilet paper quality was awful, tearing instantly. The yellowish-brown yukata felt visibly dirty. I will never stay at this hotel chain again.

This is the first time I've given a hotel in Japan a negative review. The first room's bathroom was dirty, and I tolerated it, thinking it was just a cleaning oversight. But the second room, after I switched, was even more outrageous: urine stains in the toilet, dried shampoo marks on the shower walls, and dusty glass. It's clear there's a serious issue with the hotel's room cleaning. Even if it's outsourced, this outsourced cleaning team is incredibly perfunctory. The pictures make it very clear. The hotel only offered verbal apologies and room changes throughout, with no substantial rectification or compensation. They just made me drag my luggage back and forth. Such hygiene standards are truly rare in Japan, so please be cautious if you're booking with them. Because of this, I didn't even dare to use the hotel's hot spring. Ctrip's handling was excellent, and their follow-up was very responsible, which I want to commend, but there's no option to rate them separately. All my negative feedback goes to the hotel. Even when I left, no manager came to address the issues. The location is very convenient, close to Kumamoto Castle and Sakuramachi Bus Terminal, so I'll give it an average rating, as I'm simply not in the mood to give anything positive.

The hotel's top floor has a hot spring, a sauna, and ice cream. They even serve ramen at night. The location is excellent, right next to Sakuracho Bus Terminal, making it super convenient to get to Amakusa for dolphin watching. There's also a tram station nearby, so getting anywhere is a breeze.

Right across from the bus station, and super convenient for getting to JR (Japan Railways) by tram – it's a flat 200 yen fare. The hotel's rooftop onsen is a real highlight. The room was tiny but clean. They don't provide toiletries in the room, but you can grab free toothbrushes and combs downstairs. Coffee is available from 6 AM daily, but it's a shame there's no milk. There's a Lawson convenience store just a few steps away, which is really handy.