South Aso and Relaxing Spa Resort Hotel Greenpia Minamiaso

After visiting Kumamoto Castle, if you're driving to an onsen, how about Hotel Greenpia Minamiaso? Kurokawa Onsen is also wonderful, but it's over 90 minutes by car from the castle. This area, Minamiaso, is only about an hour away, and you can enjoy a different kind of majestic scenery than what you'd find in Kurokawa. The view from the rotenburo (open-air bath) is absolutely spectacular. A sweeping panorama of the Aso mountains stretches out right before your eyes, and it truly makes you feel "a touch of luxury." Please note, the hotel is under renovation until June 2026. Before the renovations, they offered a day-trip plan that included lunch and onsen access, so I expect you'll be able to enjoy it well within your budget (once it reopens).

Hotel Greenpia Minamiaso is the perfect place to get a taste of an upscale resort feeling. The open-air bath (rotenburo) is fantastic. It’s located halfway up the Aso outer rim (the somma), giving you a commanding view that looks down over the Aso mountains. It’s a very special place where, if the weather cooperates, you can sometimes even see the unkai (a "sea of clouds") depending on the time of day. They offered a day-trip plan with lunch and onsen access. The lunch was delicious, featuring local ingredients, and my partner and I were able to spend some relaxing, "out-of-the-ordinary" time together. Within your 20,000 yen per person budget, I’m confident you'll have a wonderful experience.

This is a hot spring resort hotel in Minamiaso. I thoroughly enjoyed the lava-grilled Akagyu beef lunch. The precious Akagyu beef, which can only be tasted in Kumamoto, is thick yet meltingly tender, with a rich flavor. I was able to relax and enjoy the open-air bath in the large communal bath while gazing at the majestic natural beauty of Aso. The rooms are available for use between 13:00 and 17:00, so you can fully enjoy the travelling atmosphere. Towels are also provided, so you can come empty-handed.