Kurokawa Onsen & Culinária de Tofu Kissho: Tour de 1 dia com onsen e gastronomia

Review of a one-day trip to Kurokawa Onsen from Kumamoto. I booked the bus with lunch via Klook (no guide and does not include the 1,500 yen Onsen hopping pass). It's recommended to book at least 3 days in advance because you need to wait for a confirmation email for the bus booking from Klook. There is only one time slot: - Outbound trip: You can choose to board the bus (the bus destination sign says Yufuin) at bus stop number 7 in front of Kumamoto Station, near The New Hotel Kumamoto, at 8:33 AM, or you can choose to board at Sakuramachi Mall or Kumamoto International Airport. The bus will stop at Aso Station for 10 minutes for restroom breaks or to take photos with Usopp (the driver will constantly count the number of people on the bus before departing). - Arrive at Kurokawa Onsen around 11:20 AM. You can have lunch at Tofu Kissho restaurant, located opposite the Tourist Information Center. The restaurant will have menu item 01 Tofu set ready for us. I highly recommend it; it's delicious. - Return trip: Board the bus at 4:25 PM, arriving at Kumamoto Station around 7:00 PM. P.S. The bus stop for the outbound trip from Kumamoto to Kurokawa Onsen will be a small shelter (this bus stop is for buses continuing to Yufuin/Beppu). The bus stop for the return trip from Kurokawa Onsen to Kumamoto will be a large shelter (this bus stop is for buses coming from Yufuin/Beppu and going to Kumamoto). Both bus stops are diagonally opposite each other. You can see the bus stop on the opposite side from a distance.

For travelers who prefer independent travel without self-driving, joining a day tour like this is an excellent choice! Although there was no guided tour this time, the itinerary information was quite clear; the lunch arrangement (Kichijo Tofu) offered healthy and sufficiently portioned meals! Purchasing the round onsen pass at the tourist information center allowed us to freely choose two different styles of hot springs, experiencing semi-open-air onsen, which was very relaxing! There are many shops on the small street, but be sure to check if they are open on the day of your visit; finally, buying a handmade ceramic cup as a souvenir brought this Kurokawa Onsen day trip to a perfect close! The only minor drawback was that it rained that day, and there was still some residual snow on the staircases, making the wet and slippery paths a bit dangerous.

Although the journey was long, with the one-way bus ride totaling three hours (including a stop at Aso Station for a restroom break), the atmosphere at Kurokawa Onsen was excellent. The "Nyuto Tegata" (onsen hopping pass) was very cost-effective, and we enjoyed two different hot springs before happily boarding the return bus. The explanation of the ticket was very clear and commendable.

This is an unguided tour, but the driver will check names. Lunch is self-service and easy to find. We went on a weekday, so it was a bit quiet, but if you're just going for a hot spring bath, weekdays are definitely the best. The journey is long, taking over three hours, and the seats on Japanese buses are very small (am I too fat!?). For those who love hot springs, staying overnight is a good option.

The experience was good. The bus stopped at Aso Station for 10 minutes, allowing us to get off and take photos. Kurokawa was beautiful, and the arranged tofu lunch was delicious.

The driver arrived on time. You can show either a printed order or your phone screen, and they will confirm your name, number of people, and destination. Once you arrive at Kurokawa Onsen, you can first go to Kaze no Ya to buy your hot spring pass. For dining, Tofu Kichijo is highly recommended! Everything there is tofu-related, and it's truly excellent!

Departing from Sakuracho Bus Stop 6, the bus was punctual and convenient. The tofu lunch was delicious, and dining in the old house had a unique charm. Be careful on the return trip, as the bus stop is on the opposite side of the road. The driver called out names, which was very reassuring.

The itinerary includes pre-booked bus and lunch, saving you the hassle of finding transportation yourself, and the overall price is reasonable. Lunch includes tofu dishes, among which the ice cream is the most delicious and a must-try.