レフ熊本 by ベッセルホテルズ

Excellent location with a buffet breakfast you will love. This hotel is comfortable as it is convenient. Located at the entrance of a shopping arcade, it’s incredibly easy to get around by foot. One thing you won’t have to look for is a breakfast place as the reading area in the lobby transforms to an amazing breakfast buffet featuring lots of local produce and signature dishes. My favourite was the ramen which was amazing. If you’re driving the parking is slightly complicated. Best to talk to staff at reception to get instructions of how to get to partner parking and the special rate. It’s about a five minute walk from the parking to the hotel. The room itself was spacious and comfortable. Slightly unusual to have a basin in the room rather than the bathroom but it made it easier for other things like washing fruit. Staff were incredibly friendly and the welcome muffin was a nice touch. Will definitely be back at this place whenever we visit Kumamoto.

I really wanted to love this hotel. It had all the makings of a great property including its prime location, quiet rooms, extensive room amenities and beautifully appointed onsen. Additionally, the staff was friendly and helpful. However, the rock hard bed and strange pillows gave me back and neck pain every night of our 3-day stay we stayed there. There was a thin mattress topper which did little to soften the extra firm mattress underneath. Had it not been for the bed quality and lack of resting sleep, this rating would be higher.

Close to perfect, great location. Clean, tidy, amenities complete, great service, free lockers up front, daily welcome home drinks - with exceptional selection. Great bath house, always busy, but if you wait - it’s worth it. The cost for value is more than sufficient - will stay again.

Clean rooms of average Japanese size. Daily housekeeping is provided. The location is central, being just a 2 minute walk to the nearest tram stop and situated directly in the hustle and bustle of Kumamoto city centre. Right opposite Sakura Machi shopping centre and on the way to Shimotori Shotengai. Might be a bit confusing to locate if travelling by car as Google Maps will direct you to an “entrance” at the back of the building (as you can’t drive to the actual entrance opening into the shopping arcade. I would suggest to either stop your car momentarily on Fujidori Street to unload the bags if another person is available to then drive the car to the carpark later, but parking lots are around 5 minutes away, so if bags aren’t too heavy they’re not too difficult to transport directly from the lots either. No free parking but hotel with give you discount vouchers to subsidise your total parking fee, capping it at around ¥1200 a day if I remember correctly. Onsen on the 3rd floor was super fun with 3 outdoor baths able to fit 1-2 people in each bath, and a large indoor bath. Onsen is always rather packed though as the hotel has many rooms and is almost always fully booked. They offer free popsicles after your bath in the lounge area outside the onsen entrance.

I had breakfast at REF Kumamoto by Vessel Hotels, conveniently located just a short walk from the "Karashimacho" streetcar stop. The breakfast buffet is available from 7:00 to 10:00 AM. It's ¥1,800 for hotel guests and ¥2,000 for outside guests. While the price may seem a bit high, the variety and quality make it absolutely worth it. The buffet offers not only standard Japanese and Western dishes but also a wide selection of local Kumamoto specialties—including Kumamoto ramen, local sweets, and even shochu. There are nearly twice as many dishes as a typical hotel breakfast buffet. A highlight was the Akaushi (red beef) hamburg steak, which you can grill yourself. Burger buns are also available, so you can make your own custom burger. It was juicy and flavorful—definitely a must-try. There’s a refined yet international atmosphere, with many overseas guests. Some dishes rotate daily, so even if you're staying multiple nights, you won’t get bored. You can also enjoy their public bath in the morning before heading to breakfast, making for a truly luxurious start to your day. If you want a hearty breakfast or a chance to experience the flavors of Kumamoto, this buffet is highly recommended!