A stay to experience local culture

The 130-year-old former Matsunaga Residence, once a pawnshop and tobacco shop, has been renovated. The concept of the building is to provide an opportunity for visitors to enjoy relaxed interaction with the local community.

Canal Town

Kosa town has a canal that was once built by Kiyomasa Kato, lord of Kumamoto Castle, which runs through the town.’ 疏水（Sosui）’ refers to the creation of waterways by clearing new land for irrigation and boat transport.

The name NIPPONIA KOSA CANAL TOWN (Sosui no Sato) is named with the meaning of respecting the history of this town, which was born with water and has lived with water, while building up a new history here.

Check-in

The first thing that greets you as you pass through the curtain is a lounge with an earthen floor that retains the atmosphere of the past. A space with a blank space, where the boundaries between past and present, inside and outside are blurred, warmly welcomes travellers.

The welcome drink is carefully brewed in pairs according to the season, using tea leaves produced in the prefecture. During the summer months, we serve a glass of ‘cold green tea’ to refresh you, just like a cocktail. Enjoy the flavour of Kumamoto's natural surroundings in the moments after your arrival.

Relaxing time in an old house

Two buildings and three rooms have been reborn while retaining as much of their original atmosphere as possible.

There are no TVs or clocks, so that you can spend time with your loved ones away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Listen to the murmur of the river and the chirping of birds, and enjoy the sense of space and openness.

Connecting with local communities「KOSA PASS wish NIPPONIA」

(We are currently working with 12 shops and each shop offers different services)

The KOSA PASS is a special PASS that only guests can use to connect with the local community.

Each PASS is custom-made and carefully produced by Ikeda Letterpress, which was established in 1890. The handmade finish has a wonderful feel, with the unevenness created by the pressure of the typography and the subtle shading of the ink from time to time.

Please take it home with you after use as a memento of your trip.

‘Kosa Town walk’

‘Shopping street walk’

Staff who live locally act as guides and take you on a tour of the shopping streets as if they were showing a dear friend around. Enjoy a journey that blends in with daily life while getting to know the history and the people of the town.

(Scan the QR code on the MAP to see more information about the shop)

The shopping street is a compact area where the traditional townscape remains, and it takes about 15 min to walk slowly one way.

First, stop by a select shop with a café in a renovated building that used to be a pachinko parlour, and walk around with a cup of coffee, the owner's speciality, which you get with your KOSA PASS.

( NEWOLD（ニューオールド） KOSA PASS entitles you to a cup of coffee. )

A few doors down is an old house café where you can enjoy handmade goods and seasonal delicacies.

A gallery on the second floor with a collection of antiques is also a great place to look for bargains.

( Yoridokoro Engawa Show your KOSA PASS and get a ¥150 discount )

This shop, run by a couple, was renovated from a former tofu shop. Seasonal confiture made mainly from Kumamoto fruit is a great souvenir.

(melanger Show your KOSA PASS and get ¥300 off.)

At the end of the shopping street is the town's only long-established Japanese sweets shop. Its popular ‘marshmallows’ are superb, having sold out every day since sales began in 1976.

（池田製菓舗 KOSA PASS for a discount of 300 yen）

The whole city into one hotel.

The inn was originally an old private house that was restored to revitalise the local area. The inn does not complete everything in itself, but rather provides hospitality to the entire town. After a tiring journey, relax in the nearby natural hot springs. Enjoy a trip immersed in the local area.

（ Natural hot spring ‘Samata no Yu’ free of charge for guests.）

Dinner courses using carefully selected local ingredients.

（Chef Shizen Naito trained in Italy and Tokyo, but fell in love with the richness of Kosa's food and moved to the town.）

Trattoria San Vito, an old Italian restaurant.

Local cuisine from all parts of Italy using carefully selected ingredients, with a focus on seasonal vegetables and fruits from Kosa and visits to producers in Kumamoto Prefecture and Kyushu.

We strive to use simple cooking methods and dishes that allow you to experience the four seasons.

（Dinner course plan available on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only.）

A dinner restaurant 7 minutes' walk from the hotel. The dishes, which are based on the basics of Italian cuisine but incorporate a sense of seasonality and novelty, are very satisfying in terms of both taste and volume.

The restaurant, renovated from an old house built more than 140 years ago, is a calm and relaxing space with massive beams and high ceilings. Spend a special time with your family or loved ones.

(Ayu fish dishes at Yanaba in Kosa town, available only from June to November.)

We also guide you to other famous restaurants that have long been local favourites, such as ayu fish dishes, sushi kappou and sunken hearth grilled chicken. If you would like to enjoy the unique local culinary culture, please contact us in advance.

Breakfast to savour the region's bounty

（Dishes and chopsticks made from Kumamoto materials and handcrafted by artisans.）

Breakfast brought to you by Yanaba, which serves ayu (sweetfish) cuisine in a thatched-roofed, emotionally rich azumaya. All the dishes are served in a shokado style, with the main dish being the main course, so that you can enjoy the bounty of Kosa town in just one box.

Kosa's shiny, glutinous rice is accompanied by a sweetfish dish with a flavour that sinks in to the core, and seasonal vegetables from the local area. Enjoy a breakfast that changes with the seasons.

(Please enjoy your meal in the comfort of your room)

From the centre of Kyushu

Kosa town is located almost in the middle of Kyushu.

Many areas, such as Aso and Kumamoto Castle, can be accessed in around an hour. It is easy to visit by car from the station or airport, and is an attractive area as a base for a Kyushu tour, such as a series of overnight stays.

Whether you're looking for sightseeing or local attractions, Kumamoto's hidden gems are easily accessible to our staff.

Enjoy your stay as if you were another local and become a resident of Kosa Town for a day.