Onsen Hotel Nakahara Bessou Nonsmoking, Earthquake retrofit
8,3/10 Excellent - Based on 341 reviews
Onsen Hotel Nakahara Bessou sits in central Kagoshima as a compact, traditionally influenced property that blends Japanese-style and Western rooms within a non-smoking building. The hotel presents itself as a city “villa” close to the Tenmonkan arcade and local landmarks, offering guests straightforward amenities such as free Wi‑Fi, on‑site parking and a small gift shop; rooms are described with tatami areas or Western bedding, individual climate control and standard in‑room refrigerators. The property underwent a comprehensive seismic and fire‑safety retrofit in the mid‑2010s and emphasizes safety and accessibility measures alongside a renewed public‑facing layout, which supports its positioning as a ryokan with onsen in Kagoshima.
The bathing facilities draw from a deep thermal source and are promoted as 100% natural, continuously flowing hot spring water, served through public onsen baths rather than private in‑room tubs; bathing hours are scheduled for morning and evening use and the hotel also maintains a modest dining room where multi‑course Japanese dinners and set breakfasts are prepared using local Kagoshima ingredients. While the property keeps a hotel structure, it preserves ryokan touches—yukata, communal bathing and Japanese meal service—so visitors seeking a ryokan with onsen, Kagoshima will find a hybrid experience that pairs urban convenience with thermal bathing tradition.
Practical details underline the hotel’s convenience for city exploration: it’s a short walk from the Tenmonkan tram stop and within easy reach of Terukuni Shrine and Shiroyama Park, making it suitable as a base for sightseeing in Kagoshima city. The management highlights certified infection‑prevention measures, barrier‑free improvements and official compliance with seismic and fire regulations; the layout includes public meeting and banquet rooms for group meals or small events, and staff services cover luggage storage and basic business needs. These combined features make the property a pragmatic choice for travelers who want central access to the city with the option to use an onsen on site.
Highlights of this ryokan
Detailed Ratings
Points of interest nearby
Review summary for: Onsen Hotel Nakahara Bessou No…
Positive Reviews
Excellent central location
Multiple guests praised the hotel's central position — close to restaurants, shops, markets, transit and the port — making sightseeing and dining convenient.
Friendly, attentive staff
Staff are frequently described as very helpful, welcoming and professional; guests report staff going out of their way (holding late/changed reservations, answering questions, being responsive).
Nice onsen experience (tattoo-friendly)
The onsen was highlighted as a major plus: pleasant temperatures, relaxing baths, and several guests noted the facility accepted guests with tattoos without issue.
Traditional Japanese rooms — clean and comfortable
Many guests enjoyed the tatami-style rooms: described as cosy, spacious in some room types, very clean, with traditional touches (yukata, green tea, hot/cold water provided).
Delicious traditional breakfast
The Japanese-style breakfast was repeatedly praised for quality and attention to detail; guests called it tasty and a highlight of the stay.
Negative Reviews
Rooms feel dated or show wear
Several reviews mention the property and some rooms are old-fashioned or show signs of wear (stained carpet, dusty or minimal in-room equipment), making the accommodation feel dated to some guests.
Poor soundproofing and noise
Multiple guests reported thin walls/floors and poor soundproofing, hearing noise from neighboring rooms which affected comfort.
Parking, fees and extra charges can be unclear
Guests reported difficulty finding the parking and noted paid parking is available; others mentioned daily onsen/usage fees or charges that felt unclear or unexpected.
Booking information / room type mismatch
At least one guest reported the online listing/photos were misleading about room layouts, leading to disappointment when the assigned room differed from the advertised Japanese-style images.
Room size, amenities & practical issues
Some rooms were described as small, with limited lighting or minimal equipment. A few guests had problems with shower temperature controls, missed coffee at breakfast, early breakfast times, and an enforced key-drop/collection practice when leaving the room.
Frequently Asked Questions
Rooms suit singles, couples and families; room types include single, twin, Western and Japanese rooms (7.5–10 tatami) and larger two-room configurations — exact maximum occupancy depends on the room and is shown on the booking page.
Yes. The property offers public hot-spring baths fed by a natural spring (a certified chloride hot spring, provided as flowing spring water).
The hotel provides public large baths (daiyokujo); private onsen rentals are not listed, although guest rooms have private bathrooms with bathtubs.
The hotel does not list a dedicated airport shuttle; you can take the airport limousine bus to the Tenmonkan stop and walk about five minutes, or use a taxi (Kagoshima Airport is roughly a 50-minute drive).
The hotel website includes English information, but front-desk English ability is not guaranteed; guests are advised to bring a translation app or inquire ahead for language support.
Expect tatami rooms with futon bedding and yukata, communal onsen bathing and regional Satsuma cuisine — the hotel highlights local dishes such as kawara soba and Kurobuta (black pork) shabu‑shabu.
The Tenmonkan shopping district, Terukuni Shrine and Shiroyama Park are about a five-minute walk; other cultural sites and the aquarium are a short tram or taxi ride away.
The Tenmonkan-dori tram stop is about a five-minute walk; JR Kagoshima Station is roughly a 5–10 minute drive and the area is served by trams, buses and taxis for local travel.
Check-in begins at 16:00 and check-out is by 10:00.
Pets are not allowed. The hotel sits in the city centre by Central Park and is a short walk to Tenmonkan, where convenience stores, supermarkets and many restaurants are readily available.