16 Best Hotels in Kyushu, Japan

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 wired 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 non-guests and range from a 20-minute 1-km (½-mile) course at ¥4,400, to a 75-minute, 6-km (3-¾-mile) course at ¥20,900. The restaurant menu is very beef-centric with steaks, burgers, beef curry, and BBQ.

Far and away the best hotel 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.

A business center, rental laptops, and in-room Internet connections attract corporate travelers to this hotel whose guest quarters are simple, functional, and a good value. 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.

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.

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.

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. 

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 for. The entire staff are devoted to welcoming their guests. From Shinsen it is a short walk to Takachiho Shrine.

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 too far away to be inconvenient. Famous for its hot-spring baths and fantastic views of both Kagoshima and Sakura-jima volcano. It's a 10-minute taxi ride from JR Kagoshima Chuo Station or you can use the free shuttle-bus service.

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.

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.

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.