KAI Unzen

KAI Unzen stands in Unzen Onsen, a hot spring town in Nagasaki known for its history as a meeting point of Japanese, Chinese and Dutch influence. That history is visible in the ryokan itself, where design touches from all three cultures appear throughout the building and in the KAI Signature Rooms. The outdoor baths look over a rocky landscape wrapped in steam, fed by the milky, sulfur-rich water that rises from the ground here. The property sits beside Unzen Jigoku, the Unzen Hell hot springs, where a short walk outside brings the scent of sulfur, rising vapour and the sound of the earth itself.

Dinner draws on Nagasaki's Shippoku cuisine, a banquet style that blends Japanese technique with Chinese and Western European dishes, traditionally served as course dishes around a round table. At KAI Unzen this takes the form of a horaku-mori platter, an appetiser inspired by the Jigoku hot springs, and a shabu-shabu finished with an ago-dashi broth made from flying fish, which carries through to flavour the udon noodles served at the end of the meal. Breakfast uses regional ingredients and local cooking methods, with a Western-style option available outside the New Year period. Children's menus are offered for two age groups, and vegetarian kaiseki and breakfast menus are available on request, prepared free of the eight major allergens. Dining takes place in semi-private rooms suited to couples, extended families or small groups.

The ryokan has 51 rooms, each able to take between one and four guests. Facilities include a restaurant, two café and lounge areas, two onsen, a public bath, a spa and massage service, a playroom, a pool and a meeting room. Wi-Fi is free throughout. Pets are permitted, including in the dining areas, and a shuttle service and private parking are available, along with 24 hour EV charging. The property is roughly an hour by car from the Isahaya Highway exit, and nearby sights include Peace Park, Gunkanjima Island, Shimabara Castle and Huis Ten Bosch.