“ I want to go to a hot spring, but it’s hard to find a place where I can stay alone.”
If you have ever had that kind of worry, you should know about Seiryū-sō, a hot spring inn in Kirishima, Kagoshima.

With 21 rooms in total, quietly standing by the Kirishima River, this inn is wrapped in the murmuring of streams and the greenery of primeval forest — a scenery that feels like the stage of myth. Even if you visit alone, natural serenity gently loosens your heart; there is a calmness kind to solo travelers.

A quiet space untouched by clamor, a beautifying hot spring, and time enveloped by nature’s sounds softly undo the fatigue of everyday life.

A place where you don’t have to worry about anyone, where your own time can be cherished.
A tranquil holiday at Seiryū-sō will surely become the beginning of your “journey toward being restored.”

1.How to choose a hot spring inn where you can stay alone

Even if you want to go on a hot spring trip, the criterion “can I stay alone?” often limits your options. Many ryokan assume reservations start from two people, or they impose restrictions on solo stays during weekends or busy seasons; inns that are flexible about solo travelers are still relatively few.

In contrast, Seiryū-sō accepts single occupancy stays, regardless of weekdays or the night before holidays. The quiet location along the Kirishima River, and the moderate scale of 21 rooms, combine to make it possible to stay without self-consciousness even when you’re traveling alone. In fact, many people stay here solo; there are voices that they find comfort in the tranquil atmosphere and the unobtrusive attentiveness of the staff.

When choosing an inn, it’s important not only to check whether solo stays are allowed, but also to pay attention to the style of meals, the number of guest rooms, the overall atmosphere of the facility, and the surrounding environment. Especially for trips where you want to treasure time alone, inns that offer quiet spaces surrounded by nature suit you far better than large, bustling ones.

Choosing an inn like Seiryū-sō, which respects the time of a solo traveler, will make your solo journey richer.

2.Why Seiryū-sō is chosen by solo travelers

Seiryū-sō is located along the valley of the Kirishima River. Since there are no large tourist facilities nearby, the inn itself is very quiet. In this space where only natural sounds echo, you can experience a feeling as if time flows slowly.

An inn that is easy to stay in alone has an atmosphere where “you don’t have to break your own rhythm.” Seiryū-sō values exactly that atmosphere, maintaining a sense of “just the right distance” both between guests and between guests and the staff.

“Not too much interference, but properly being watched over.” That sense of reassurance is one reason Seiryū-sō is quietly chosen by those who are new to solo travel as well as by return visitors.

3.Facility design that allows you to feel at ease alone

Seiryū-sō has 21 guest rooms. There is none of the bustle of a large hotel, and every room faces the rich nature of Kirishima. Open the window and you can hear the river, surrounded by the presence of the forest.

The space is just right — not so large as to feel lonely, yet not cramped either. The “just right” feeling that does not let you feel uneasy being by yourself is conveyed throughout the design of the inn.

The hot springs are of myoban (alum) and sulfur types, and there are both indoor baths and open-air baths. In the open-air bath, you can warm your heart and body from the core, listening to the murmurs of the river and the rustling of trees.

Meals are served in the dining hall “Nokaidō”, where you feel like you have a private room. The distance from others is well kept, so you can enjoy your food at your own pace without worrying about other guests. The multi-course meals using seasonal local ingredients are served one dish at a time, full of gentleness that makes you want to savor them slowly.

4.Time for self-reflection within tranquility

One of Seiryū-sō’s charms is the stillness of the morning. Waking up to the chirping of birds and the sound of the river brings a calm sense that you can never get in the hustle of the city.

In an everyday life where you are chased by busy schedules, “just the natural sounds that are there.” Merely tuning your ears to that can open a feeling as if a gentle breeze is blowing into the depths of your heart.

Without packing your itinerary, just soaking in the hot spring, returning to your room to relax. You don’t have to talk with anyone, you don’t have to accomplish anything. Those blank moments, before you know it, feel like the greatest luxury. That is solo travel at Seiryū-sō.

5.Healing that only comes because you are alone

There is healing that only comes with being alone. You don’t have to talk to anyone. You don’t have to adjust to someone else’s timing. Decide everything by your own feelings, move at your own pace — that freedom is the essence of solo travel.

“Today I’ll soak in the hot spring again.”
“Take a little nap now, then rest early tonight.”
Such small choices, piled up, gently loosen your heart.

Seiryū-sō is an inn that quietly sits beside you when you want to let go of effort, when you want to quietly heal your fatigue. Alone is okay. Rather, because you are alone you can truly relax. Why not spend such a peaceful holiday at Seiryū-sō in Kirishima?