23 Best Hotels in Kyushu, Japan

Situated amongst the trees beside a river, Myoken Ishiharaso is the perfect rural escape. Most of the rooms are new and modern and overlook the river, so you can always hear the rushing waters. There is a rotemburo (outdoor hot spring) for mixed bathing that sits on the edge of the river and another private outdoor hot-spring pool that you can book in advance—both are wonderful. After bathing, enjoy an incredible multicourse Japanese dinner that along with breakfast is included in the room rate. The ingredients in both meals are fresh, seasonal, and cooked to the highest standards. Vegetarian and vegan options are available. This hotel can get very expensive during Japanese holidays.

Opened in 2024, the new Marriott offers luxurious rooms and hotel artwork celebrating Nagasaki's "wakaran" heritage, a mix of Japanese, Chinese, and Dutch influences next to Nagasaki train station. There is an excellent main restaurant, two specialty restaurants (teppanyaki and sushi), room service, and an executive lounge. Even if you're not staying at the hotel, it is worthwhile stopping by for afternoon tea and elegant desserts, or cocktails and a meal in an elegant setting with a night view of Mt. Inasa.

With stunning views of the Sakurajima volcano and excellent service, the Sheraton Kagoshima (new in 2023) is the best luxury option for international visitors to the city.  The hotel has a fitness center, spa, and a great sodium chloride hot-spring bath. There is also a foot bath, which men and women can enjoy together. The 19th-floor Flying Hog Grill and the Vivarium cocktail bar offer guests the chance to wine and dine while watching Sakurajima smoke and rumble on the horizon. Splurging for a room with club lounge access will also let you enjoy your breakfast pastries with similarly impressive views. 

Shinsen is the best ryokan in Takachiho and one of Kyushu's finest (it's also quite expensive), since more than half the rooms have an open-air bath. The elaborate Japanese kaiseki dinner and breakfast included in the price are well worth the expense. If you have any dietary requests, just let them know in advance and they can be catered to. The entire staff are devoted to welcoming their guests. From Shinsen it is a short walk to Takachiho Shrine.

When not submerged in the mineral waters at this relaxing lodging that dates from 1925, you can warm yourself by the glowing coals in the irori (sunken hearth) in the lobby and enjoy the delicious included meals. The rates include breakfast and dinner; the kaiseki course dinner is usually served in your room (vegetarian options are available). The inn is among the shops and galleries near the thermally heated Lake Kinrin, which gives off steam much of the year. Service is excellent, with kind and thoughtful staff. 

Much classier than other members of this hotel chain, the Washington has guest rooms with views of the city or the sci-fi half-dome of Canal City. Hundreds of shops and eateries are steps away. The hotel has both wired Internet connection and Wi-Fi.

The Aso-Kuju National Park is famous for horses and cows, and at the El Patio Ranch you can live your cowboy or cowgirl dreams as you walk, trot, or canter around the local area. The rustic rooms are simple but spacious, while the views over the horses and hills are fantastic. The horse-riding courses are also available to nonguests and range from a 20-minute 1-km (½-mile) course at ¥4,400, to a 75-minute, 6-km (3¾-mile) course at ¥20,900. The restaurant menu is very beef-centric with steaks, burgers, beef curry, and BBQ.

One of the best hotels in town, the sophisticated Grand Hyatt overlooks the Canal City shopping and entertainment complex. Those craving a little extravagance won't be disappointed. Huge stone pillars and blond wood panels set a relaxing mood in the lobby, which descends into a lounge with an arresting view. Beyond an immense wall of glass a fountain splashes, and on the other side of that is the concave hemisphere of Canal City's Urban Theater. The hotel's opulent rooms peer out over the mall's interior or the Naka River and the rest of the city.

Overlooking the Naka River, this upscale Western-style hotel is a short walk from Canal City. All the rooms have generously sized beds, not always the case at business hotels. The riverside location beside the "entertainment district" puts you just a few steps from the alfresco dining at the yatai stalls, but the hostess bars and soaplands are in equal proximity, perhaps too close for comfort for some guests. Easily accessible from Nakasu Kawabata Station, the hotel is five minutes from Hakata Station on the subway's airport line.

Glossy marble and massive slabs of granite dominate this popular and upscale hotel. Standard twin rooms are large and comfortable, with enough space for a table and a couple of easy chairs. Light colors, pastel carpets, and tasteful gold accents keep things looking chic. It's unbeatably convenient, right next to Nagasaki Station and the always lively Amu Plaza shopping center.

Aimed at no-nonsense business travelers, this spartan hotel provides simple, functional rooms, fast Wi-Fi, and fair prices. The hotel is a two-minute walk from Nagasaki Station, across the pedestrian bridge on the narrow road past the FamilyMart convenience store.

Across from and named for the city's best-loved landmark, this hotel has great views and provides excellent service. Traditional enough to please anyone, the rooms come in an amazing variety of layouts, all with ornate puffy furnishings in luscious creamy colors. In-room dining is available, but you don't want to miss the romantic restaurant on the 11th floor.

It's not as over-the-top as its big-city counterparts, but this hotel is endowed with the same crisp service and all the right amenities. Weary travelers will be happy to know it's next to Kumamoto Station—great if you want to drop off your bags and freshen up before heading off to see the sights.

The main appeal of this manor in the woods is the hospitality of the Tatsuji family. Bright guest rooms with tall windows provide far-reaching views. The chef creates culinary wonders, from fresh bread to Mediterranean dishes with local produce. From Kumamoto, take the bus via Minami Aso and get off at Takamori. Call the pension, and they will have someone pick you up. You don't have to book the evening meal, but the relative isolation of the property, and the Tatsuji's family's culinary skills, mean that booking meals with your stay is the best option and something that almost all guests do. Vegetarian options are available on request. The hosts ask that you arrive before dinner, which is served promptly at 6:30.

Opened in 2023, the Ritz-Carlton, Fukuoka brings a new level of luxury to Kyushu. Elegant design elements that celebrate the region's weaving culture can be seen in the rooms and communal spaces. The 25-meter swimming pool has views out over the city. Bay, the top floor bar, is the perfect place to watch the sunset and enjoy a craft beer or cocktail. The multilingual staff provide exceptional hospitality. 

Perched atop coastal cliffs, this luxurious family-friendly hotel has its own onsen, and most rooms have stunning ocean views. At night, Yakushima's dark skies mean the view up is filled with stars. It is well worth booking the evening buffet, not only because food options are limited on Yakushima, but also because the delicious food is quite varied, including fresh sushi. There is a common area with table tennis and a small library with books on local wildlife, plus a small bar with complimentary drinks available before dinner. 

This unique and special place mixes the best of Western and Japanese accommodations, with rooms mostly in freestanding houses in a wooded setting, making autumn one of the best times to visit. Most ryokan serve only Japanese food, but Murata has an Italian restaurant and a full bar where you can sit fireside and enjoy after-dinner drinks. If you get bored with taking baths, there is a small but elegant art museum whose well-curated exhibitions change twice yearly. The food is made of the finest ingredients, and all dishes are delicately flavored and exquisitely presented. The menu changes every month and includes options for vegetarians. 

On the site of the rebellious Saigo Takamori's last stand against the emperor in 1877, this hotel sits high enough to provide enviable views but not so far away to be too inconvenient. It's famous for its hot-spring baths and fantastic views of both Kagoshima and Sakurajima volcano, though rooms with these views are much more expensive. It's a 10-minute taxi ride from JR Kagoshima Chuo Station, or you can use the free shuttle-bus service.

With its central location and modern design, the Solest Takachiho is a great option for those who want to spend a night exploring the town. The rooms are a fusion of Japanese and Scandinavian design elements, and, unlike a traditional ryokan, you have 24-hour room service. 

There are more than 250 Toyoko Inn business hotels scattered around Japan, and this branch offers budget-minded travelers cramped but clean accommodations, reasonable rates, and a central location near Canal City. The hotel also provides a complimentary Japanese breakfast—onigiri (rice balls wrapped in seaweed), miso soup, and coffee. The hotel is one block west of the Haruyoshi Bridge along Kokutai-dori. Sign up for an international member's card to get discounts.

Inexpensive but functional accommodations, a complimentary Japanese breakfast—onigiri (rice balls wrapped in seaweed), miso soup, and coffee—and free Internet access in the lobby are among the pluses of a stay at this member of one of the country's largest hotel chains. To get here, take the streetcar to Karashima-cho. If this location is full, there are three Toyoko Inns in Kumamoto.

Soak the stresses of the world away as you sit naked in the outdoor pool of the Yumerindo ryokan, eat a multicourse Japanese meal, and retire to your futon for a good night's sleep. You'll be able to listen to birds and the bubbling river as you bathe in the hot-spring waters. In the ryokan's restaurant, you'll be presented with dish after tiny dish of exquisite local delicacies, as is tradition with a kaiseki menu. You'll know you're nearing the end of the meal when you are offered miso soup and rice, which is always the penultimate course before a final seasonal dessert. While you are dining, staff will enter your room to lay out futons on the tatami matting. A futon on tatami is more solid that most mattresses, so it may take some getting used to.