Kumamoto · Kurokawa Onsen
Kurokawa Onsen Kurokawasō
黒川温泉 黒川荘
An inn on a rise above the village, known for the bluish water of its 'Takeyu' open-air bath. Day use runs 10:30 am–9 pm — the latest in Kurokawa. ¥700 or the hopping pass; private baths ¥2,500/50 min (check availability at the front desk).
- Price (adult)
- ¥700
- Hours
- 10:30–21:00
- Closed
- Open daily (maintenance closures)
- Access
- 10 min walk from Kurokawa Onsen bus stop
- Water type
- Bicarbonate spring
- Tattoos
- Ask ahead
- Admission
- Adults ¥700 (Nyuto Tegata accepted). Private family bath ¥2,500 per 50 min (no phone booking — ask at the front desk; guests have priority; 10:30–20:30)
- Water
- Sodium-chloride-bicarbonate-sulfate spring; its bluish-white tint is distinctive even in Kurokawa
- Baths
- Separate open-air baths facing the sheer “Byobu-iwa” (folding-screen rock), indoor baths, a dedicated day-visitor area and three private baths. Toiletries provided
- Location
- About 10 min on foot downstream from the village centre; parking available
- Phone
- 0967-44-0211
- Official site
- kurokawaso.com ↗
- Open in Google Maps
- Google Maps ↗
Essentials
Stay in this onsen town
Compare and book stays in Kurokawa Onsen. Day bathing itself needs no booking.
Opens partner booking site (affiliate)
Why go
- Latest day-use in Kurokawa, until 9 pm
- Bluish 'Takeyu' open-air bath
- Hopping pass accepted
A bluish-white bath beneath the folding-screen rock
Kurokawaso sits a little downstream from the village, and its open-air bath faces the towering cliff called Byobu-iwa — a view that keeps day visitors coming. The sodium-chloride-bicarbonate-sulfate water takes on a bluish-white tint in certain light, unlike any other inn here. With a dedicated day-visitor area and three private baths it suits families and couples, and as one of the few open until 21:00 it makes a good final stop on a Nyuto Tegata round.
Tips & cautions
- General bathing starts at 10:30 (no early mornings). Evenings are quiet and the rock is lit up.
- Private baths cannot be booked by phone — check availability at the desk; guests first.
- Nyuto Tegata valid for the regular baths only. Bring a towel.
- Occasional maintenance closures — call 0967-44-0211.
Getting there
About 10 min on foot from the Kurokawa Onsen bus stop (Manganji 6755-1). ~1 h from Hita IC or 1 h 30 min from Kumamoto IC by car. Free parking.
Before you go
- No official tattoo policy is published — ask at reception.
- Ryokan day-use hours are limited and may be suspended in peak season — phone the same morning.
- Payment is usually by ticket machine in cash — bring coins.
- Last entry is 30–60 minutes before closing.
Features
Mood & scenery
Price
Rules & private
Convenience
Only here
Amenities
✔ Verified operating: 2026-09 Operating status and rates cross-checked against the official site and onsen guides (full source notes in Japanese on the JA page)
Prices and hours change. Check official sources before visiting.
More in this area
Kurokawa Onsen Nyuto Tegata (bath-hopping pass)
One cedar 'nyuto tegata' pass (¥1,500) admits you to any three of the rotenburo at Kurokawa's 26-odd ryokan. Valid for six months, and one of the three stickers can be spent on food or souvenirs instead. Most inns accept bathers roughly 8:30–21:00, but hours vary and some close for cleaning or when full. Buy the pass at any ryokan or the association office 'Kaze no Ya'.
Ana-yu communal bath
A tiny bath hut on the Tanohara River, rebuilt by donations in 2022 after the 2020 floods (now separate men's and women's rooms). Slide the shutters open and it becomes almost open-air. ¥200 in the box.
Jizō-yu (Kurokawa communal bath)
The oldest communal bath in town, next to the Jizō hall that gives Kurokawa its identity. Not covered by the bath-hopping pass, but only ¥200. No soap; the water runs hot.
