[Accommodation Report] Experience the vibrant city and history of Kumamoto. Enjoy an exciting stay at "OMO5 Kumamoto by Hoshino Resorts"

• Table of Contents
• The concept is "Wasa Rush! Castle Town"
• "OMO5 Kumamoto" is located in a prime location with a view of Kumamoto Castle.
• Choose from comfortable rooms based on the number of people and purpose
• [Experience] Lots of exciting discoveries! "Kumamoto "MACHI" Walk"
• The gelato at OMO Cafe is a must-try!
• [Experience] "Kumamoto Go-KINJO BAR" where staff will tell you about their best spots
• [Experience] Have a toast while watching Kumamoto Castle at night! "Terrace Lighting Event"
• Charge up your energy with a breakfast to choose from 5 options!
• [Experience] "miikke - Your Kumamoto color"
• "OMO5 Kumamoto" made the city of Kumamoto feel very familiar to me

The concept is "Wasa Rush! Castle Town"

Kumamoto Prefecture is one of the most popular travel destinations in Japan, with the famous Kumamoto Castle, Mount Aso, which boasts one of the world's largest calderas, and a variety of local delicacies such as horse meat and mustard lotus root. In April 2023, Hoshino Resorts' "OMO" brand "OMO5 Kumamoto by Hoshino Resorts " opened in the center of Kumamoto.

OMO is based on the concept of an "exciting downtown hotel," and Kumamoto City is the city of "wasamon" (a Kumamoto dialect word for "lover of new things"). We'll stay at OMO5 Kumamoto by Hoshino Resorts and report on its charms to find out what wonderful encounters and experiences you can have there!

"OMO5 Kumamoto" is located in a prime location with a view of Kumamoto Castle.

It's about 40 minutes by limousine bus from Aso Kumamoto Airport (just under 20 minutes by tram from Kumamoto Station). OMO5 Kumamoto is located in the center of the vibrant city of Kumamoto. The appeal of the OMO brand is that you can stay in the best location in the city . It has excellent access to transportation and tourist spots, and you can enjoy a beautiful night view at night.

Beyond the front desk where the check-in counter is located is the "Go-KINJO Go-KINJO Map (Local guide map)," which was compiled by hotel staff who have actually visited the area. It lists recommended shops that are not listed in guidebooks, categorized with photos, so you can look at it with excitement, thinking, "I didn't know there was a shop like this!" or "I'll buy souvenirs here♪."

If you look closely, you'll even see a Kumamon sign! Just checking in already puts you in a fun mood.

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Choose from comfortable rooms based on the number of people and purpose

OMO5 Kumamoto by Hoshino Resorts has 160 rooms, divided into three main types. The Yagura Room, which can accommodate 1 to 4 people, is, as its name suggests, a room with a loft that makes use of the vertical space . The spacious living space makes it easy to enjoy a relaxing time with friends.

The "Entaku Room (1-2 people)" features a large round table between the beds . During the day, you can work hard or spread out a guidebook to plan your trip, and in the evening, you can enjoy a meal with ingredients purchased from a nearby store. This table can also be used as a divider between the beds when you go to sleep.

The "Utsuwa Room," which can accommodate one or two people , has a table that runs all the way around the wall of the guest room like the edge of a vessel . The entrance side of this room functions as a desk, and the bedroom side as a low table, combining both design and ease of use.

We also have a variety of other rooms to suit the number of people and purpose of your trip, such as the "OMO House (1-6 people)", which is recommended for families and groups and comes with two bedrooms, a kitchen, and a drum-type washer/dryer, and the dog-friendly rooms (Yagura, Utsuwa) where you can stay with your beloved dog, so please choose the one that best suits your needs.

Another thing that almost all of the rooms have in common is the comfort of the tatami flooring . Kumamoto Prefecture has the highest yield of rush grass (the plant that tatami mats are made from) and the highest production of tatami mats in Japan (about 90%). When you enter the room, you will feel relaxed and calm, as if you were taking a walk in the forest.

Another attraction of OMO5 Kumamoto by Hoshino Resorts is that all the water coming out of the taps in your room is drinkable. Kumamoto City uses groundwater, a blessing from Mount Aso, as its water source. Drinking delicious water in your room lets you feel the richness of Kumamoto Prefecture.

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[Experience] Lots of exciting discoveries! "Kumamoto "MACHI" Walk"

One of the reasons OMO is so popular is that it offers local lectures and guided tours by staff who are experts on the city and region, allowing you to take a deep, encounter-filled trip that you won't find in guidebooks .

After taking a break in your room, head out on a " Kumamoto "MACHI" Walk " with an OMO Ranger who knows Kumamoto, a city where new and old things coexist! (Meet in front of Go-KINJO MAP at 3:30 PM)

"Originally, different kanji characters were used for Kumamoto, but it was Kato Kiyomasa, who built Kumamoto Castle, who changed them to the current characters," "In Kumamoto, there is a dialect called 'wasamon,' which means 'a lover of new things' or 'sensitive to trends.' If you walk around the city of Kumamoto, you will find many second-hand clothing stores," and so on. There is a lot of information about Kumamoto that I didn't know before! It's great that the site provides easy-to-understand explanations from a tourist's perspective of things that locals know!

The course (1 hour) goes through Shimotori in front of the hotel, and loops around the deep drinking district before returning. Along the way, you can see a well in a stylish cafe, try the local specialty Yamecha tea, and hear about the relationship between the literary master Natsume Soseki and Kumamoto, all of which are new information that will give you a glimpse into the charm and lifestyle of Kumamoto.

From recommended dinner spots to ramen for the final meal, to unique souvenir shops, the staff will carefully explain the places you should stop by next, sometimes even using their own experiences. Once again, I felt that the OMO brand is a hotel that offers a special stay that values ​​the connection between the city and the people who live there and spreads its charm .

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The gelato at OMO Cafe is a must-try!

After enjoying a stroll around the city, let's enjoy the sweets at OMO Cafe. This time, we tried the popular menu item "Mixed Gelato (650 yen)" . This dessert can be enjoyed with three different flavors and nine different toppings, and this time we customized the vanilla base with local bean snacks "Higo Taiko" and "Nama Sweet Potato".

The sweetness of the vanilla and sweet potato is accented by the saltiness and crispy texture of the Higo Taiko, making it irresistible. The taste is even more pronounced when you eat it on the "DECO-BOCO Terrace" where you can relax on the sofa and enjoy the view of Kumamoto Castle !

[Experience] "Kumamoto Go-KINJO BAR" where staff will tell you about their best spots

Kumamoto City has many wonderful bars. There are over 100 bars just within walking distance of "OMO5 Kumamoto by Hoshino Resorts". For those who want to go to a bar but don't know where to go because there are so many to choose from, we recommend " Kumamoto Go-KINJO BAR " .

Around 5pm, hotel staff dressed as bartenders will be standing in front of Go-KINJO Map. You can use the original bar diagnosis chart next to the counter to find a bar that suits you, or you can listen to the staff's recommendations while tasting popular cocktails from nearby bars. You'll be able to find a bar that suits you.

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[Experience] Have a toast while watching Kumamoto Castle at night! "Terrace Lighting Event"

After enjoying the nightlife in Kumamoto, why not reminisce about your fun day while enjoying a delicious cocktail on the DECO-BOCO Terrace at OMO5 Kumamoto?

At OMO5 Kumamoto by Hoshino Resorts, the " Terrace Lighting Event " is held every night (20:00-22:00). The "DECO-BOCO Terrace," whose architectural design echoes Kumamoto Castle, is lit up in sync with the illumination of the castle, and on Friday and Saturday nights, you can enjoy live music by local residents.

One thing you should definitely order at "Terrace Lighting Event" is the limited-edition original menu item "Kiyomasa Toast Set (2,000 yen)." This cocktail uses celery, which is said to have originated when Kiyomasa brought it back from Korea, as well as yuzu and Kuma shochu "Musha-gaeshi," and has a refreshing yet somewhat deep flavor. The rich flavor of the matcha terrine served with it as a dessert was also a perfect match with the cocktail!

One of the attractions is the fun of taking photos that can only be done at night, such as the toast card of Lord Kiyomasa that lights up when you take a photo with a flash. Let's enjoy a wonderful time taking photos and tasting delicious cocktails.

Charge up your energy with a breakfast to choose from 5 options!

After a relaxing rest in a comfortable bed, head to OMO Cafe for breakfast (7:00-10:00 *Last orders 9:30).

At "OMO 5 Kumamoto," you can enjoy five main plates, including "White Stew Cube Toast with Lotus Root Mustard," inspired by the Kumamoto local dish "mustard lotus root," and "French Toast with Sweet Potato and Citrus," which features Kumamoto's specialty citrus fruits and potato sauce, as well as salads, soups, and free drinks .

The cube stew was a perfect combination of toast filled with a generous amount of mellow stew, the spicy flavor of mustard, and the crispy texture of lotus root chips. The free drinks, which included citrus honey, acerola tomato, and milk, were also delicious, making for a great start to the day.

As I sip my coffee on the terrace after dinner, I can hear the sound of the trams, the birds chirping, and the hustle and bustle of the city. It's strange how even though it's my first time in the city, it somehow feels familiar to me.

[Experience] "miikke - Your Kumamoto color"

After enjoying a delicious breakfast, why not try making a one-of -a-kind souvenir at "miikke - Your Kumamoto Colors" ?

This activity involves wrapping the "Kumamoto Castle Musha-gaeshi Brooch", which is modeled after the stone walls of Kumamoto Castle, in two colors from a total of 30 colors. Each color of the brooch has a name related to Kumamoto, such as "Ikinari Dango" (Ikinari means "sudden rice dumpling"), "Karashi Renkon" (karashi lotus root) and "Kumamon no hoppe" (Kumamon's cheeks), and it is interesting to hear the origins of these names. Place some cut rush grass with scissors in a special box along with the brooch, and your very own souvenir is complete!

"OMO5 Kumamoto" made the city of Kumamoto feel very familiar to me

On this trip, the city of Kumamoto felt more familiar and attractive. I think this was an experience that could only be achieved by staying at OMO5 Kumamoto, which connected me to the city through my stay. Between the fun accommodation and activities, I felt like I was able to experience the real charm of Kumamoto that isn't found in guidebooks.

This time I stayed at "OMO "5" Kumamoto," but there are also "OMO1," "OMO3," and "OMO7" hotels across Japan. These numbers indicate the range of services offered, with a wide variety ranging from "OMO1," which is minimal yet full of features to help you enjoy the city, to the basic "OMO3," which has compact and affordable rooms, to "OMO7," a full-service hotel with spacious rooms and gourmet food that makes the most of the region's charms. My stay made me feel like I wanted to stay at an OMO again on my next trip!

You can make reservations for "OMO5 Kumamoto" at the lowest price on the official website, so be sure to check it out.

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