Unwind in a mountain
hot spring.
SAMATA NO YU — Misato, Kumamoto, Japan
Important notice
From Thursday 3 September, free bathing for people affected by the earthquake
We are taking part in the bathing support scheme run by Kumamoto Prefecture for people affected by the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake.
- Who can use it
-
Residents of the following five cities and seven towns who are living in an evacuation centre, or whose bathroom at home cannot be used.
Kumamoto, Kamiamakusa, Uto, Uki, Yatsushiro
Hikawa, Mifune, Kashima, Mashiki, Kosa, Ashikita, Misato - What to bring
- Please show the free bathing certificate issued by your city or town office. You will also be asked to fill in your address, name and age at reception.
- Starts
- Thursday, 3 September 2026
For certificates and eligibility, please contact your own city or town office.
At the foot of Japan's longest stone stairway,
soft alkaline waters gently melt away
the tiredness of the road and of everyday life.
Samata no Yu is a roadside-station hot spring in Misato, Kumamoto. It offers a large open-air bath with mountain views, an indoor cypress bath, private family baths, the Samatan Lodge cottages, a restaurant serving local specialities, and the Waku Waku farmers' market.
01
ONSEN
Hot Spring Baths
A large open-air bath facing the mountains, and an indoor bath of fragrant cypress.
Our spring is a mild alkaline simple hot spring — silky, gentle on the skin, and warming long after you leave the water. Private family baths let you bathe undisturbed, and a tatami rest room is available for cooling down afterwards.
- Hours10:00 – 21:00
- AdmissionAdults ¥600 / Students ¥350 / Children ¥250
- Family bath50 min, admission + ¥1,000 (reservation)
02
STAY
Stay — Samatan Lodge
Cottages with a kitchen and bath — stay as if you lived here.
Choose a detached Type A cottage (sleeps 6) or a Type B room in a shared building with a central hall (sleeps 4). Cookware and tableware are provided, so you can shop for local produce and cook your own meals. Guests bathe in the onsen free of charge.
- RatesFrom ¥10,000 per cottage / room (service fee extra)
- Check-in15:00 / Check-out 10:00
- BookingBy phone, from 10:00 a.m. six months ahead
03
DINING
Dining
Our signature Akaushi beef bowl, and Kumamoto's home-style dago-jiru soup.
Alongside our famous beef bowl — piled with Akaushi beef raised on the plains of Aso — you'll find set meals, champon noodles and pork cutlets. Kaiseki courses for celebrations and memorial gatherings, and banquet plans with shuttle service, are also available.
- Beef bowl¥2,200 (with dago-jiru soup)
- Dago-jiru set¥1,200
- KaisekiFrom ¥5,000 — reserve 2 days ahead
04
MARKET
Waku Waku Market
Vegetables harvested this morning, and the bounty of Misato.
Local growers deliver fresh vegetables and fruit each morning, alongside specialities and preserved foods from Misato and wider Kumamoto. You'll also find our limited-production shochu "Sanzen", named after Japan's longest stone stairway.
- ProduceDelivered fresh every morning
- Sanzen shochu720 ml, ¥2,580 (tax incl.)
05
AREA
Around Misato
Japan's longest stone stairway, a heart-shaped stone bridge, and the country's greatest stone arch —
explore the stone town of Misato before or after your bath.
06
ACCESS
Access
| Address | 705 Samata, Misato, Shimomashiki District, Kumamoto 861-4405, Japan |
|---|---|
| Phone | +81-964-46-4111 |
| By car | About 50 min from central Kumamoto / 30 min from Mifune IC |
RESERVATION
Lodge bookings by phone only, from 10:00 a.m. six months before your stay