Local Gastronomy in Kurokawa Onsen, Kumamoto: A New Way to Enjoy Kurokawa Onsen Begins with Restaurant Selection

Chefs captivated by Kurokawa's ingredients. Two new restaurants—'Shoryu,' a Japanese cuisine restaurant by Chef Shinji Miyahara of Michelin two-star 'Shin'yashiki Kofukuron,' and 'KAZANE,' an innovative French restaurant by Chef Minami Nakai, formerly of Tokyo's Michelin one-star 'LATURE'—will open simultaneously at Au Kurokawa. Stay at a ryokan in Kurokawa Onsen and savor exquisite dining. A new Kurokawa Onsen experience is born.

On August 1, 2026 (Sat), two restaurants will open at Au Kurokawa, a culinary hub operated by Kurokawa Shoji Co., Ltd. (Minamikunisatchi, Aso District, Kumamoto Prefecture). After soaking in the hot springs and dressing in yukata, guests can enjoy a dinner crafted by world-class chefs. Experience one of Kyushu's finest hot springs alongside exceptional cuisine.

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A New Travel Concept Where Cuisine Takes Center Stage

'Shoryu' and 'KAZANE' are special restaurants created exclusively for visitors staying in Kurokawa Onsen.

Instead of planning your trip around which ryokan to stay at, you'll now choose based on which restaurant you want to dine at—'I want to go to Kurokawa Onsen because I want to eat at that restaurant.' With Kyushu's premier hot spring and comfortable accommodations now complemented by top-tier dining options, the way to enjoy Kurokawa Onsen becomes even more flexible and expansive.

Unlike the standard one-night, two-meal ryokan package, guests can ride a shuttle in yukata after relaxing in the baths, heading directly to Au Kurokawa (restaurant area) for a seat at the heart of Kurokawa gastronomy. Enjoying the comfort of a traditional inn alongside the refined quality of standalone restaurants creates a one-of-a-kind experience available nowhere else.

Ahead of the official opening on August 1 (Sat), reservations will first be made available to guests staying at partner ryokan 'Yakata no Yu.' Going forward, we will gradually expand participation to more ryokans, aiming to create a new form of travel—'turning the entire hot spring town into a single auberge'—where all visitors to Kurokawa Onsen can enjoy this exceptional dining, regardless of where they stay.

Restaurant Information

Japanese Cuisine 'Shoryu'

A Michelin two-star chef drawn by 'ultra-soft spring water' and

the aesthetic of subtraction, stripping ingredients to their essence

Chef Profile: Shinji Miyahara, native of Kumamoto Prefecture. After training in Osaka and Tokyo, he moved to Paris before returning to Japan to open independently in Kumamoto City. His restaurant 'Shin'yashiki Kofukuron' received two stars in the Michelin Guide Kumamoto/Oita 2018. After temporarily closing that restaurant, he relocated to Minamikunisatchi Town to open Shoryu.

Culinary Philosophy: Guided by the 'aesthetic of subtraction' throughout his 32-year career. 'The true protagonist of Japanese cuisine is nature itself. The chef must remain a humble supporting actor, enhancing nature's gifts without unnecessary interference,' striving to present the subtle essence of the season on each plate.

Water Philosophy: Uses spring water (hardness 26) from Tachiwara source, located about 15 minutes by car from Kurokawa Onsen, for dashi. This ultra-soft water, which defines the foundation of his cuisine, was the decisive factor in Miyahara's choice to settle here.

Head Chef

Shinji Miyahara

Cuisine Type

Japanese (omakase course)

Seats

12 (counter only)

Service Style

18:00 start, group seating, one seating per night

Official Website

https://www.aukurokawa.jp/tenanto/shoryu_new

Innovative French 'KAZANE'

Game expertise from renowned kitchens × geothermal heat and firewood. Dining on the earth's energy: 'Kurokawa Gastronomy'

Chef Profile: Minami Nakai spent approximately four and a half years at Tokyo's Michelin one-star restaurant 'LATURE,' specializing in game (wild game) cuisine, before relocating to the Kurokawa Onsen area. Committed to creating cuisine that 'can only be expressed in this specific place,' she joined KAZANE.

Culinary Concept: 'Kurokawa Gastronomy.' Fish and vegetables are cooked using the geothermal heat of hot springs, game is finished in a wood-fired oven, and spring water from the Tachiwara source is used throughout the cooking process. The natural energy of Kurokawa itself becomes a cooking medium.

Sourcing: Direct partnerships with producers within a 50km radius of Kurokawa Onsen. The menu features local ingredients from Aso and Kyushu, with a focus on game such as venison.

Name Origin: 'Kazane' (meaning 'sound of the wind'). The name reflects the desire for guests to sense the atmosphere of Kurokawa's forests and nature through the cuisine, while also incorporating the 'harmony' element unique to a hot spring destination.

Head Chef

Minami Nakai

Cuisine Type

Innovative French (omakase course, 7–8 dishes)

Seats

12 (6 counter seats, 6 private room seats)

Service Style

18:30 start, group seating, one seating per night

Official Website

https://www.aukurokawa.jp/tenanto/kazane_new

About Au Kurokawa

Au Kurokawa in Kurokawa Onsen is a restaurant complex comprising eight buildings, aiming to become 'the kitchen of Kurokawa Onsen'—a place where guests, local residents, and regional ingredients come together to foster community.

Its central mission is pioneering 'separated lodging and dining' in Kurokawa Onsen. This model addresses staffing shortages at ryokans while offering guests a new way to enjoy travel—freedom to choose their own dinner. Additionally, by actively using ingredients sourced within a 50km radius and growing herbs in on-site gardens, Au Kurokawa is committed to sustainable, locally-circulating food systems.

Since opening its flagship store 'Au Pan & Coffee' in 2024, the complex has gradually expanded. With three current restaurants in operation, the simultaneous opening of two new restaurants in August 2026 will bring the total to five. Two of the eight buildings remain open for new tenants.

[Facility Overview]

Name: Au Kurokawa

Address: 6733-1 Manganji, Minamikunisatchi, Aso District, Kumamoto Prefecture (Kurokawa Onsen town)

Official Website: https://www.aukurokawa.jp

Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/au_kurokawa_official/

Official note: https://note.com/au_kurokawa [Currently Operating Restaurants] · Au Pan & Coffee (flagship store) Instagram: @aupan_coffee · Tonkou Official Website: https://tonkou-k.jp/ · Aka ~aka~ Official Website: https://aka-aso.jp/

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