We came here for a private onsen experience and honestly loved being able to enjoy the hot springs without needing to share the space with strangers.

Kurokawa Onsen is such a good destination if you’re travelling as a couple, family or simply feel nervous about traditional public onsens in Japan, because a lot of ryokans here offer private baths that you can book instead.

The easiest way we found to organise this was by going to the tourist information centre in the middle of town and asking for a private onsen. They’ll actually ring around to different ryokans for you to see what’s available, which made the whole process so much easier.

Helpful tips:

• Private onsens can book out during busy periods so try to organise one earlier in the day

• Bring cash as some smaller ryokans may not accept cards

• Towels can usually be rented if needed

• Cooler weather makes the outdoor baths and steam even more atmospheric

• Easy to combine with exploring the rest of Kurokawa Onsen town on foot

This honestly ended up being one of the most relaxing experiences from our Kyushu road trip.