From October 1 to December 14, 2025, Kurokawa Onsen will host a special gourmet campaign featuring three renowned Kumamoto brand beef varieties. Nine member ryokan are offering 16 dining plans where guests can enjoy premium beef alongside the hot spring resort's signature outdoor baths.
Three Premium Kumamoto Beef Varieties
The campaign showcases three distinct Kumamoto prefecture beef brands, each with unique characteristics:
Kumamoto Kuroge Wagyu (くまもと黒毛和牛)
Renowned for its melt-in-your-mouth tenderness and fine marbling, Kumamoto Kuroge Wagyu represents the pinnacle of Japanese beef quality. The consistent high quality makes it a favorite among gourmet enthusiasts.
Kumamoto Akaushi (くまもとあか牛)
Developed specifically for grazing on Aso's vast grasslands, Kumamoto Akaushi (Japanese Brown cattle) is praised for its concentrated umami in the lean meat with perfectly balanced fat content. This breed also plays an important role in preserving Aso's iconic grassland landscape.
Kumamoto Aisai-gyu (くまもとの味彩牛)
A crossbreed of Kuroge Wagyu sire and dairy cow dam, Kumamoto Aisai-gyu offers moderate marbling and tender texture. This versatile beef is perfect for various cooking methods including steak, shabu-shabu, and stews.
Campaign Details
Event Dates: October 1 (Wednesday) – December 14 (Sunday), 2025
Participating Venues: 9 ryokan in Kurokawa Onsen
Available Plans: 16 different dining plans
Booking: Reserve through the official campaign website
Each participating ryokan offers unique preparations of the featured beef varieties, allowing guests to experience different cooking styles and presentations during their stay.
Prize Drawing Campaign
Guests staying on campaign plans and visitors who complete all three stamps on the Kurokawa bath pass are eligible for a special prize drawing:
- Grand Prize (1 winner): 30,000 yen Kurokawa Onsen lodging voucher
- Second Prize (2 winners): 10,000 yen worth of Kumamoto Kuroge Wagyu beef
- Third Prize (3 winners): 7,000 yen worth of Kumamoto Akaushi beef
- Fourth Prize (3 winners): 5,000 yen worth of Kumamoto Aisai-gyu beef
About Kurokawa Onsen
The Aso region, with its magnificent panoramas, is designated as a UNESCO Global Geopark and World Agricultural Heritage site, where not only the rich natural environment but also traditions and culture nurtured by history continue to thrive.
Kurokawa Onsen is located in the deep mountainous area of this Aso region.
In this area, they have created a unique worldview through landscape development that harmonizes with the natural environment and the "nyuto tegata" (bath pass) system for touring outdoor baths. Currently, approximately 900,000 people visit annually, enjoying hot spring tours and natural scenery (of which 300,000 are overnight guests).
Kurokawa Onsen is one of Japan's most beloved hot spring destinations, located in Minamioguni-machi, Aso District, Kumamoto Prefecture. The resort area is famous for its traditional ryokan architecture, scenic outdoor baths (rotenburo), and the unique bath-hopping pass system that allows visitors to experience multiple hot springs.
