Kurokawa-so
黒川荘
Does Kurokawa-so allow tattoos? In a private bath
A slab of rock called Byobu-iwa stands over the bathing block here, and the four open-air baths are arranged to look straight at it from 15 minutes below the crowded part of Kurokawa.
Three family baths named Ichi, Ni and San-no-yu are booked at the front desk in 50-minute turns, free to staying guests and 2,500 yen to anyone not staying. That second figure matters, because the ryokan association’s own FAQ says day-use private baths in Kurokawa generally cannot be reserved, and here they can. No tattoo rule is published for the shared open-air baths, which day bathers may also use for 700 yen.
Where it is
Hakata Bus Terminal
Kyushu Sanko coach 2 h 36
Kumamoto STN
Kagoshima-Chuo STN
Nagasaki STN
✈Kagoshima Airport
Hotel locationKurokawa Onsen bus stop
What happens when you arrive
Skip the shared baths and reserve the private one the way this page describes. Once the door is closed, the bath is yours.
How we know
Confirmed from official site, bath structure rather than a tattoo policy (the inn’s bath page names all three family baths and gives the turn length, the free rate for guests and the 2,500 yen day rate)
Read on: kurokawaso.com/furo/furo.html
Best for: Reserving a locking bath as a day visitor, which most of the valley will not do
Family baths are taken at the desk in person; the inn does not accept telephone bookings for them, and a day visitor should check availability before buying a ticket. Reception for them runs 10:30–20:30. The shared open-air baths are open to tegata holders 10:30–21:00, last entry 20:30. Some rooms were rebuilt with an open-air bath of their own. The inn puts itself about 15 minutes on foot below the center of the village and warns that stairs connect everything.
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