I stayed at Tamaki Ryokan for almost a week, which was super active, because Kumamoto and Kyushu in general are super interesting, and it was very nice to come back in the evening. Come like half-dead and such a plop bang on the futon! A comfortable nest with a truly Japanese atmosphere and kilometers of tatami. A yokai could live in a cool closet, it's a pity that it was not there. It was especially cool to drink the famous tap water, standing on the balcony with a view of the blooming sakura. If I can return to Kumamoto in the future, I will definitely stay here again. Thank you Mai-san and Hiro-san. (arigatou and spasibo too, lol)

The room clean up service provided by the staff was excellent, making sure that the room essentials were well stocked. The location was fairly great for its value, not the nearest to the city center but it helped that we had a car to travel about.

The check-in process for us was quite confusing. The staff was not present during the appointed check-in time, and we were left to wonder around the apartment for awhile not knowing when he would return, since there was not direct way of communication besides email. We went to check if there was any note left behind in the rooms but none to be found. We ended up leaving our luggage in one room with the keys left inside and left to go about the rest of the day. Turned out to be the wrong room, but he still made good arrangements to help us settle in for the night.

Tamaki Ryokan is just fantastic! Where to begin? From the moment you enter you are feeling like it's "home". Just the japanese Version :-) The owner and his wife are very welcoming and English was no problem at all. The neighbourhood is very quiet and the breakfast was fantastic - yes, it's japanese and it's not what we're used to but the experience is fantastic and we really enjoyed it. The Futon was comfy and we slept like logs. We would definitely recommend this place - but mind yourself: the rooms are not huge and the stairs are a bit steep - if you can live with that: go for it! You won't regret it. Would stay there again 10/10 - Arigatou gozaimasu!

That we only spent one night :-(

It's an original ryokan experience in the middle of the city. This means: tatami mats and futon. I never tried that before, so I really wanted this type of experience. The Japanese breakfast was really, REALLY good. The husband of the couple is a really good chef! Also, they took into account my food allergies (always nice). The location is also good in my opinion. It's a 5-minute walk from Shin-Suizenji, which has a stop for the streetcars and a train stop that quickly goes to Kumamoto station, and in the other direction already sets you on the path to Aso (if you want to explore the volcano).

Small family-run ryokan. The hosts were super hospitable, they can communicate in basic English. The traditional breakfast was delicious and very homey. The ryokan is in a residential neighborhood that is close to transit (both the train and streetcar stations), so you have easy access to go in either direction to Kumamoto Station or the airport while being able to sleep in a quiet area at night. Also plenty of restaurants and konbini nearby. The room and bath/toilet facilities were clean, fresh towels were provided daily. The rooms are traditional tatami so you sleep on a futon. There is a coin laundry right across the street.

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We had a traditional Japanese room. It was small, but we knew that going in so wasn’t an issue. 😊 The room was very clean and had a nice balcony that allowed in fresh air. The blankets provided were very soft and comfortable. The people running the Ryoken were very lovely and we had no issues communicating in basic English/Japanese. I would recommend this place for anyone coming to the area.

The futons provided felt a bit thin, but it could just be because we aren’t used to that style of sleeping. Additionally, the shower was a bit too small for my partner who is 193cm. He had to sit down in the bath so just be aware.

- You will be accommodated in a three-storey house in a quiet area. The tram stop is a few minute’s walk from the house. - You can book a large traditional breakfast and also dinner with your stay. I only had breakfast and the host is a really good cook. He also responded to my personal wishes in terms of food. - The room was comfortable with its own air conditioning and a small bathroom. In the hallway there was a large refrigerator and a microwave for guests to use. - Fresh towels and shampoo were provided every day.

- stairs to the room (not barrier-free) - To reduce plastic waste, rooms could be provided with shampoo bottles instead of the small bags every day.

This location, Miso-Tenjin/Shin Suizenji, is quite a good hub point. You can go anywhere: the castle, stations, malls, shrines, and of course, the famous Suizenji Garden within 10 to 15 mins. by bike(you can directly use shared cycles right here!), trams and buses. You'll also have an excellent concierge here. He definitely gives you good points of view about Kumamoto. Just enjoy!

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This is a small family run ryokan. The owner - Hiro san and wife offered great hospitality and helped us to carry our heavy luggage to our rooms. We like the dinner prepared by them... it was delicious and taste home cooked. We feel 'at home'. The tatami room is comfortable for 2 paxs. Though it's a small ryokan, all the amenities are provided adequately. There's parking beside ryokan, just have to pay. Would love to stay here again.

The toilet is slightly small but it's within our expectation. Most importantly, it's clean and well maintained.

Simple tatami room in a guesthouse in the Suizenji area of Kumamoto. The area is quiet, but reasonably well-connected to sights and restaurants via train and tram. The staff are friendly and welcoming, and there is everything you need for a short stay.

The wifi was intermittent, but otherwise everything was fine.