We spent one night here. It was our second night in a Chisun hotel in Kyushu. Clearly, like many Japanese business hotel brands and motel brands around the world, the brand has a certain style and look across all its hotels. This hotel seemed about 3 or so years old and was perfectly acceptable for one night. We were not surprised by the small size of the room after a previous stay in a Chisun hotel, and several in other Japanese business hotel chains. However, you would probably struggle if you were staying several nights and wished to unpack your luggage as there would be nowhere to put anything other than hang 3 or 4 items on an open rail. Our room was a standard twin room - but perhaps they have larger rooms, if you need more space. The bedroom area is very compact with little space to place much luggage and walk around, but well enough designed that you can manage if you are tidy. The bathroom, as in the previous hotel, is very compact, but again, well enough designed that unless you are over 6 ft tall, you will probably manage fine. The towels were small but absorbed well enough. As a woman, my usual gripe with small bathrooms is not enough space to lay out my various toiletries and such stuff. A small shelf and more hooks might have helped here. The biggest gripe I have with the hotel is that, while we did not expect the reception staff to speak much English, they seemed reluctant to try to listen to us as we spoke carefully and slowly - most unusual in Japan where service is generally faultless. Also, the whole reception area was always very smoky as it was where businessmen seemed to wait for colleagues to meet up, smoking as they sat around.

The hotel is about 2 or 3 blocks from the nearest tram stop, not too far to drag trolley bags, not ideal with more luggage unless you took a taxi. The hotel is a very short walk from of the Kotsu centre which is the main bus terminal for local and regiional buses. Also, in the basement level below the bus terminal are several simple restaurants, and there are more in the adjoining department store. However, be warned - they close from around 7.30 pm at night so if you wish to dine here, eat early. There are 1 or 2 coffee shops open from around 7.30 in the morning, plus one convenience store near by. For a larger choice of places to eat and more interesting shops, you need to walk to the covered, pedestrianised arcades the far side of the department store, past the tram stop.

If you have time to spare in Kumamoto, the castle is certainly worth a visit - there are some very interesting artifacts inside the building itself and it is architecturally interesting and very well restored.

The small gardens at Suizenji-jo are well kept and attractive, with some notable old trees. They are located in a suburb to the east of the city centre. reached by bus or JR train on the Hohi line.