A long-established inn where you can spend a luxurious time with a spectacular view and rooms with open-air hot spring baths (Kumamoto Prefecture)

Hello. This is Chihilog, a casual blog that provides information about Fukuoka and neighboring areas, with a focus on gourmet food.

We would like to introduce you to a wonderful inn located in Hitoyoshi City, Kumamoto Prefecture.

Renovated in 2023! Hitoyoshi Onsen Nabeya, a relaxing inn with a view of the Kuma River (Hitoyoshi City, Kumamoto Prefecture)

This time we will be introducing "Nabeya," which was founded in 1829 during the Edo period. Located along the Kuma River in what is now Hitoyoshi City, Kumamoto Prefecture, it is a historic inn that has been used by members of the Imperial family and many other cultural figures and celebrities.

The hotel was forced to close due to the devastating "July 2020 heavy rains" that caused devastating damage in the Kuma River basin, but it has made a full recovery after about three years. A new building was constructed, and the name of the hotel was changed from "Hitoyoshi Onsen Nabeya Main Building" to "Hitoyoshi Onsen Nabeya", and it reopened in June 2023.

It is about a 5-minute drive from Hitoyoshi IC on the Kyushu Expressway and has free parking, making it easily accessible.

At the entrance, you will be greeted by a huge stone that has been passed down since the Edo period.

The spacious lobby offers a beautiful view of the Kuma River from the large windows. There is also terrace seating where you can enjoy a foot bath.

There is also a kids' space (opening hours 7:00-10:00/15:00-21:00), so even those with small children can feel at ease.

The gift shop is lined with souvenirs from Kumamoto, mainly from Hitoyoshi.

An open-air bath on the terrace! A suite with a spectacular view where you can spend a luxurious time

The "New Wing" has newly built suites and semi-suites, all with river views.

This time, we stayed in the "SAKURA" Japanese-Western style suite room with an open-air hot spring bath (2 people per room, 1 night with 2 meals, from 42,350 yen per person *bathing tax not included).

The room was spacious at 92 square meters! There was a dining area, a sunken sofa, an indoor bath, and an open-air bath on the terrace. The fluffy bed was very comfortable and helped relieve my daily fatigue. I was also happy to find that tea and coffee sets, as well as bottled beer (small bottles) and sparkling wine were provided as amenities.

From the open-air bath on the terrace, you can enjoy a magnificent view of the Kuma River. A luxurious moment!

The sound of the flowing river and the spectacular view were extremely soothing.

A large observation bath with a panoramic view from the Kuma River to the ruins of Hitoyoshi Castle

Only the "Suite Rooms" and "Semi-Suite Rooms" have "hot spring" baths in the rooms, but there is a large observation bath on the top floor of the new building, so even those staying in the "Superior Rooms" and "Standard Rooms" can enjoy the view of the Kuma River while bathing in the Hitoyoshi hot spring waters (open from 15:00 to 24:00/6:00 to 9:00). *The "Superior Rooms" and "Standard Rooms" also have bathrooms and shower rooms in their rooms.

The hot spring is a weak alkaline bicarbonate spring that flows directly from the source (no water or heating is added), and is moist and gentle on the skin.

Taking a leisurely soak in the water will help you blow away the fatigue of everyday life.

The building also has a sauna and a family bath.

Dinner is exquisite French cuisine that can only be enjoyed here

The dinner venue was the restaurant "CRESCENT - Hope" in the new building. It was named after the image of the crescent moon as it waxes towards fullness and the recovery from the floods.

By the way, non-guests are also welcome to use the restaurant. Dinner requires a reservation at least two days in advance, and there are three courses available: the "New Moon Course" (7,700 yen), the "Sengetsu Course" (11,000 yen), and the "Mikazuki Course" (14,300 yen).

There are seats close to the Kuma River and seats where you can enjoy your meal while looking at the pleasant scenery of Hitoyoshi projected on the screen.

The restaurant serves innovative cuisine created by Chef Koji Toyama, which is based on French cuisine but is not bound by any particular genre. You will be excited the moment the original dishes are brought to your table.

The dishes, which use an abundance of local ingredients, mainly from Kyushu, convey Chef Toyama's feelings for Hitoyoshi and the feelings of the local people aiming to recover from the Kuma River flooding, making you feel warm inside.

The menu changes depending on the season, but here I'll introduce what I had on the day I ate it.

soup

The first thing that arrives is soup. It is made using leftover vegetables and meat from the preparation of the course menu, and is a reflection of Chef Toyama's dedication to using ingredients.

The first thing you'll notice is a soft aroma at your nose, and when you bring it to your mouth you'll be impressed by the rich flavor.

Three types of amuse bouche

The amuse-bouche consists of three dishes: "Seasonal vegetable and pork rillette tart" in the center, "Beef prosciutto and scallop tartare," and "Grilled edamame."

The [Seasonal Vegetable and Pork Rillette Tart], decorated with captivating butterfly motifs, has a crispy texture and a rich pork flavor, followed by the gentle flavor of edamame that fills your mouth.

The grilled edamame is topped with charcoal made from soy sauce dregs.

~Grilled sweetfish with salt~ Sweetfish, liver sauce, citrus foam, smoked water

Fascinated by the white smoke, this dish decomposes sweetfish and reconstructs it in your mouth. It is full of the chef's playfulness, wanting you to enjoy the taste of sweetfish, a specialty of the Kuma River.

The softly grilled sweetfish meat is served with sweetfish liver sauce, charcoal powder reminiscent of salt-grilled fish, and citrus foam.

I was able to enjoy a variety of flavors on one plate and it was delicious.

~1/f~Onion~ Cold onion soup served with onion ice cream and chips

In the center of the "Cold Onion Soup" is onion ice cream.

The rich soup is accentuated by the sweet onion ice cream.

I was also impressed by the texture of the onion chips, which were baked crisp in the oven.

~Eel~ Grilled eel with balsamic sauce

This is what captured my heart the moment it was brought to me.

Under the eel is a layer of seasonal vegetable jelly, which is packed with the flavor of the vegetables.

After the crispy and fluffy texture of the eel, you'll be treated to a dizzying array of changing flavors and textures.

~Kirishima Salmon Mi-Cuit~ Kirishima Salmon, Amakusa Tiger Prawns, Shellfish Sauce

This dish uses Kirishima salmon and Amakusa kuruma prawns in a hearty manner. The aroma of the shellfish sauce hits your nose and whets your appetite.

The salmon is cooked using a method called "mi-cuit", which leaves the centre half-cooked, giving it a rich and soft texture.

The rich prawns and salmon were perfectly matched with the fragrant shellfish sauce and komatsuna sauce.

Tomato and basil granita

"Tomato and Basil Granita" is as beautiful as a jewel.

The granita, with its fresh, sweet tomato flavor, was topped with a sauce made from basil and tomatoes. It was a memorable taste.

53.1℃ World ~ Wagyu beef loin ~ Kumamoto Wagyu beef, citrus foam, Japanese style sauce

The chef has been searching for the perfect cooking temperature for meat for over 20 years, and has finally come to the conclusion that "53.1 degrees is the best temperature for Kumamoto wagyu beef." He cooks his meat to perfection based on this.

The paint is made from sweet potato sauce.

If you put it in your mouth by itself it has a normal sweetness, but when you eat it with meat it becomes surprisingly sweet.

When I took a bite of the meat with the foamy citrus sauce, the sweet flavor of the juicy meat spread throughout my mouth.

The Japanese style sauce was also excellent, and I was able to fully enjoy the deliciousness of the meat.

~Today's rice dish~

The final dish of the day was "Hitoyoshi Salmon Marinated Rice Bowl."

The broth made from bonito seeped into my body and was extremely delicious.

~Dessert~ Matcha terrine

The rich "Matcha Terrine" is served with matcha meringue.

The fragrant matcha sauce enhances the rich yet gentle flavor.

~ Petit fours ~ Sweets

The coffee was accompanied by a chocolate brownie and leaf langue de chat cookies.

This dish is addictive with its rich, melting chocolate flavor and the soft texture of the langue de chat.

In addition to the course, we also ordered "Summer Delight" (770 yen).

A drink made with orange and mango grenadine syrup and a fizzy sparkling drink. It was refreshing and delicious, perfect for summer.

It was an unforgettable experience, with food that evoked the chef's warm heart and care for each and every ingredient.

After the meal, enjoy a drink at the cafe and Kuma Shochu bar

The "Cafe & Kuma Shochu Bar" next to the lobby is also a must-visit spot. There are about 30 types of "Kuma Shochu" made from high-quality rice grown in the clear waters of the Kuma River and the temperature differences of the Hitoyoshi Basin. You can find your favorite cup while talking to staff who are knowledgeable about Kuma Shochu, including the history and trivia of each brand.

I ordered "Onsen Shochu Yume Atmospheric Pressure Distillation (Yamatoichi Brewery)" (700 yen) made with hot spring water.

It is a naturally alkaline shochu with a slight sulfur scent from hot springs. It has the same pH as the human body, so it is delicious and easy on the body.

Breakfast is a buffet with 20 Japanese and Western dishes

The next day's breakfast is a buffet with around 20 different Japanese and Western dishes.

Eggs Benedict is a popular menu item that sells out quickly.

The three muffins were also amazing!

Everything was delicious and it was a very satisfying breakfast.

"Hitoyoshi Onsen Nabeya" is a place where you can spend a very luxurious time. It is also recommended as a reward trip.

＜Click on the store name for more details about the store ↓＞
■ Hitoyoshi Onsen Nabeya
Address: 22-2 Kukamachi, Hitoyoshi City, Kumamoto Prefecture

From here, we will introduce some nearby tourist spots that you should not miss when visiting Nabeya.