Hotel Nampūrō

Top choice in Kyūshū


This cheerful, busy resort is the place to stay, especially with kids in tow. English-speaking staff are welcoming, and there's a large family-friendly play area for young children, a pool (summer only), inflatable toys, and even a pen with goats and rabbits. For onsen bathers, multiple rotemburo (outdoor baths; day-use permitted) offer stunning sea views, especially at sunrise.

Choose from Japanese, Western-style or combination rooms, some with private rotemburo.

Other family-friendly features: free beverage and ice-cream bar, table tennis, lawn games, and cosplay costumes for the entire family. Dinners are kaiseki style, and there's a breakfast buffet.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Kyūshū attractions

1. Koi no Uyogu Machi

0.51 MILES

The spring water that flows into Shimabara from Mt Unzen is so pure that koi can swim in it, and in this district south of the castle you can see the fish…

2. Nehan-zō

0.51 MILES

In the cemetery of Kōtō-ji Buddhist temple (江東寺) is this tranquil Nirvana statue, dating from 1957. At 8.6m, it's the longest reclining Buddha in Japan.

3. Seibō Kinenkan

0.82 MILES

On the grounds of Shimabara Castle, this museum is dedicated to the work of Kitamura Seibō, a native son of Shimabara and sculptor of the central statue…

4. Shimabara-jō

0.85 MILES

This hilltop castle was ruled mostly by the Matsudaira clan from the 1660s and played a part in the Shimabara Rebellion. It was rebuilt in 1964. As well…

5. Samurai Houses

1.1 MILES

In the Teppō-machi area, northwest of the castle, are buke yashiki (samurai residences) set along a pretty, 450m-long gravel road with a stream down the…

7. Unzen Ropeway

5.74 MILES

This cable car gets you close to a shrine and the summit of Myōken-dake (1333m), from where the hike via Kunimi-wakare takes just under two hours to…

8. Gojū-shūnen Hiroba

7.28 MILES

In the centre of Unzen village and at the base of the jigoku (literally 'hells'; boiling mineral hot springs), this plaza commemorating the national park…