Hotel Shougetsu is a hot spring inn on Kinko Bay in Ibusuki, Kagoshima, that has been receiving guests since 1917 and calls itself an inn proud of its cooking. Before you book, three things matter: the website is in Japanese only; a free bus to the Saraku sand bath leaves every 15 minutes in the afternoon; and the last check-in is 19:00.
Hotel Shougetsu at a glance
| Item | Official information |
|---|---|
| Address | 2-12-7 Yunohama, Ibusuki, Kagoshima 891-0406 |
| Phone | +81-993-22-2241 (reservations 9:30–17:30, every day) |
| Founded | 1917 |
| Rooms | 49, most facing Kinko Bay |
| Check-in / out | 15:00 (last check-in 19:00) / 10:00 |
| Baths | Large bath with an open-air bath and sauna; ocean-view rooms with their own open-air bath |
| Sand bath | Free bus to Saraku every 15 minutes from 16:00 |
| Meals | Kaiseki dinner of Ibusuki and Kagoshima produce; hot breakfast |
| Parking | Yes (number and fee not stated) |
| English website | None |
From the official pages, read October 20, 2026.
Rooms at Hotel Shougetsu
Which room types are there?
| Room type | Rooms | Guests | What the inn lists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean-view Japanese room with open-air bath | 9 | Up to 4 | 8 tatami mats, a free-flowing hot spring bath on the room, bidet toilet, unit bath, non-smoking, Wi-Fi, air purifier |
| Ocean-view special room | 4 | Up to 6 | Japanese-Western style |
| Ocean-view Japanese room | 24 | Up to 4 | Size not stated |
| Mountain-view natural twin (town side) | 12 | Up to 2 | Simmons beds, a bathroom finished with a natural wood deck |
What is in the room?
The inn lists a TV with satellite channels, a phone, a tea set, a fridge, a hair dryer, its own air conditioning, and a humidifier you can borrow. Body soap, shampoo, conditioner, a toothbrush set, a razor, towels, a bath towel and a yukata are provided. Room sizes in square meters are not given, and only the rooms with an open-air bath list their toilet and bath.
The baths and the sand bath at Hotel Shougetsu
What baths does the hotel have?
The large bath has a spacious open-air bath and a sauna. Guests in the ocean-view rooms with an open-air bath can soak while looking over the bay; the inn describes that bath as free-flowing from the source. The official pages do not give bath hours or mention a private bath you can reserve.
How does the free bus to the Saraku sand bath work?
Saraku is Ibusuki’s sand-steaming bathhouse, a separate facility from the hotel. After check-in, from 16:00, the hotel runs a free bus every 15 minutes, and it comes back for you about 70 minutes after it leaves. Buy adult tickets at the front desk; children pay at Saraku. Tickets bought at the hotel are cash only. The hotel’s sand-bath guide lists 1,500 yen for an adult plus 300 yen each for a small towel and a bath towel, 2,100 yen in all, which matches the set price on Saraku’s own site. Saraku’s site lists a maintenance closure from December 14 to 18, 2026.
Can I bathe with a tattoo?
The official pages do not mention tattoos. Ask the hotel before you book, and ask Saraku too if you plan to take the sand bath. Our tattoo and onsen guide explains what to ask.
Meals at Hotel Shougetsu
What is dinner like?
Dinner is a kaiseki of fresh produce from Ibusuki and Kagoshima, chosen by the head chef, who the inn says gets ingredients from local fishing ports and farms. Dishes shown on the official pages include pork shabu-shabu in a house broth, sukiyaki of Kagoshima beef, and local seafood as sashimi and grilled dishes, with a range of shochu to go with them.
And breakfast?
Breakfast is warm dishes made with seasonal ingredients the head chef selects.
Can the hotel handle allergies or a special diet?
The official pages do not say where meals are served or whether allergies, vegetarian or halal meals can be handled. Ask the hotel when you book.
Getting to Hotel Shougetsu in Ibusuki
By train
The hotel is 13 minutes on foot or about 5 minutes by taxi from JR Ibusuki Station. For the trip from Fukuoka, the access page lists the Kyushu Shinkansen from Hakata (about 80 minutes) and the Ibusuki no Tamatebako limited express (about 55 minutes). The official pages do not mention a station pickup.
From Kagoshima Airport or by car
A direct airport bus runs from Kagoshima Airport to Ibusuki Station in about 1 hour 50 minutes; from there, take a taxi for about 5 minutes. By car from Kagoshima-Chuo Station, take National Route 225 and then Route 226, about 1 hour 15 minutes. The hotel has parking, but the number of spaces and any fee are not stated. Our Kagoshima map shows where Ibusuki sits in the prefecture.
Prices, children, cancellation and taxes at Hotel Shougetsu
How much does a stay cost?
The official pages we read do not show room rates or plans. Check them on the official site when you book, or call the hotel.
What do children cost?
The official pages we read do not give child rates or a rule for young children sharing bedding. Ask the hotel.
What are the cancellation policy and payment methods?
Neither is shown on the official pages we read. Confirm both before you book and keep the answer; our hotel cancellation guide covers the common rules in Japan.
Are there local taxes?
A bathing tax applies to hot spring stays in Japan; ask the hotel how much is charged for your stay, and see our onsen bathing tax guide. Ibusuki has also had a new accommodation tax approved by the national government. The City of Ibusuki page does not yet give a rate or a start date, so check the city’s page before your trip.
What foreign guests should know before staying at Hotel Shougetsu
- The website and contact form are in Japanese only. Phone reservations are taken from 9:30 to 17:30, every day.
- Arrive by 19:00, the last check-in time.
- Carry cash for Saraku tickets bought at the front desk.
- Saraku is closed for maintenance from December 14 to 18, 2026.
- Ask about tattoos, dietary needs, cancellation and payment before you book; the official pages do not cover them.
Frequently asked questions
Does Hotel Shougetsu have an English website?
What time is check-in at Hotel Shougetsu?
How do I get to the Saraku sand bath from Hotel Shougetsu?
Can I use the baths at Hotel Shougetsu with a tattoo?
How much does a night at Hotel Shougetsu cost?
Bottom line (2026): Hotel Shougetsu is a bayside inn in Ibusuki, open since 1917, with kaiseki dinners of local produce, a large bath with an open-air bath and sauna, and a free bus to the Saraku sand bath. The site is in Japanese only, so confirm rates, cancellation and payment when you book.
Sources
Every fact on this page is from official pages: Hotel Shougetsu’s home (Japanese), rooms, meals, access and sand bath guide; the Saraku sand bath official site; and the City of Ibusuki page on the accommodation tax. All were read on October 20, 2026. Prices and rules change; check the official site before you book.
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