Minami Aso Luna Observatory Auberge Mori No Atelier

I felt the experience was a mixed bag. We stayed in the annex and the rooms were pretty comfortable. The breakfast the next day was basic (american style) but cute and filling enough. The observatory show was interesting though not outstanding.

Our room was very cold. I know we stayed in December and the weather was cold, but the staff knows about it. it took a solid 2-3 hours to bring the room to a comfortable temperature. thanks god for heated floors. So it would be really helpful if they pre-heated the rooms for guests' arrival. The observatory show consisted of 3 parts: a platenarium presentation (all in japanese), a look through the telescope, and outdoor stargazing. The planetarium part was a bit boring. I suppose if i spoke japanese it would have been more fun but the visuals were not that impressive. seeing through the telescope was really cool. but i wish they showed us the moon or something more impressive than jupiter that just looks like a blurry dot. i dunno, maybe i am just not into this or maybe the day was too cloudy to see clearly. But i was disappointed but what i saw through the telescope hahahaha

Location, facility, observatory, food and staff were amazing.

Nothing, all great.

it was educational

I understand that it’s an old building but everything is really musty and a bit mouldy especially considering the price I’m paying. and to be fair - the day we arrived was raining crazy- so the drive was all for nothing. There was an earthworm and mouse droppings in my bathtub. Portion of food was pretty small. I had pre-ordered food for my child but they didn’t get the email so all they could offer was bread and soup.

I thought that I had booked a room but I had accidentally booked an adventure. The hotel has a planetarium and an observatory with the second largest telescope in Kyushu. You get a planetarium show and an actual telescope experience. Plus, they take you outside for sky gazing, a campfire and hot drinks ( including muled wine).

The telescope.

The staff were really friendly. The star-gazing tour is really nice (even though we could not see any stars on the day due to the cloudy weather). The room is so big and spacious! The breakfast is OUTSTANDING!

The bed and pillow could be a bit more comfortable.

Very friendly and helpful staffRustic but clean with modern facilities. Great food (make sure to try the Akaushi beef)

A friend said this was her favourite hotel in Japan - and it lived up to expectations. We had one of the twin rooms in the main building, which had a separate sitting room and bathroom. The rooms were clean and beds comfortable. What makes this hotel stand out is1) cuisine 2) astronomy 3) friendliness of all those who work there. The breakfasts and dinners we ate at this hotel are some of the best meals I have ever eaten in my life. If you stay more than one night you get a different cooked breakfast and evening meal to the previous day. French cuisine with Japanese accents. The local beef was so tender, the vegetables so fresh, the homemade bread delicious! The meals are at set times with a set menu - I had contacted them in advance about my food allergy and they did not cook with mushrooms during our stay. They use local beef or pork - they can adjust menus for those who are pescatarian, or want to avoid beef or pork, but do not offer vegetarian meals. The hotel has its own Planetarium with a show for guests each evening - live commentary mainly in Japanese with some English. Next door is the Observatory with an 82cm telescope (2nd biggest in the whole of Kyushu). As part of the stargazing experience ( free to hotel guests) we were able to look through the telescope to see Jupiter, Mars, Sirius, Betelgeuse etc - with live explanations in Japanese and English.The final part of the evening was spent outside lying on camp beds wrapped up warmly in sleeping bags stargazing while a professional astronomer asked us questions on what we had already learnt that evening - could we find the stars and planets we had already looked at through the telescope. He pointed out how we can identify different stars and planets - and answered questions in Japanese and English ( having worked and studied at universities in the USA for 20 years he was bilingual). Many of the staff at the hotel are professional astronomers - post doctoral level.

No room above to finish my review - so I will finish it here - the comments below are all still positive comments! I loved staying at this hotel, and hope I can come back here some day. The hotel provide slippers at the entrance, and numbered cupboards to store outdoor shoes in which was a good idea, as the area surrounding the hotel can be muddy in wet weather. NB – if the weather is wet then the stargazing experience is a little different: planetarium show still takes place but in the observatory guests look at (but not through) the telescope (as the roof will not be opened when weather is wet/overcast) and look at photos which have been taken from the observatory. Afterwards, instead of stargazing outside guests can play a simple space game (with lots of information about space).

Unique experience on astronomy with opportunity to view the cosmos using the second largest telescope in Kyushu, knowledgeable staff on astronomy

Price slightly on the high side although the unique experience it offers makes it worthwhile

We stayed here - with dinner and breakfast included. We did not expect the 5 star - 5 course meal for dinner. It was awesome & totally unexpected. The B&B is literally in the middle of nowhere - which is why we chose the dinner and breakfast options - so glad we did. Guests also get to participate in a Virtual Space Tour and view the sky through their onsite telescope and outdoor observation beds.We stayed on a night that unfortunately had skies that were cloudy and raining - so no telescope or outdoor observation. We did get to enjoy the amazing virtual space tour and truly delicious meals - would love to come back to see through the telescope. Lovely people run this place. The staff and owners take real care to look after their guests - the food is extremely delicious, very well prepared and presented.The Virtual Space Tour presenter was very engaging and passionate about space and telescopes etc. He took us above Japan, into the atmosphere above earth, through our solar system, then around the galaxy and outside it using realistic images and detailed video animations etc. With commentary in both English and Japanese.

the weather :-(

The staff from the kitchen, housekeeping to reception were exceptionally friendly and helpful making our stay an extremely enjoyable one and feeling as if it’s home away from home.The accommodation has to make a last minute change to the menu of my wife who is lactose intolerant, during our entire stay. My mistake for not informing the hotel before hand.Food was scrumptious and sumptuous. It’s French cuisine and the taste, flavour and flavour was very very good.The star gazing tour, spanning 2 hours, was very interesting and educational. We were able to see Jupiter and Betelgeuse through the telescope of the observatory.Overall despite the higher cost of accommodation it’s definitely value for money.Lastly we regret to only able to obtain the name of one of the staff, Yoshi. Yoshi is a very dedicated and empathetic person and try his best to understand our needs and wants.

The accommodation unit can afford to have more dishes, glasses and knives. We have to seek the help of the kitchen to slice a slab of Maguro.

beautiful location but hard to access without car. the area around was surrounded by maple leaves when we visited early December. meals are simple but enough.

we did not get to see the stars as it was a cloudy day. the indoor show in the theatre was underwhelming. meals had to be served at a fixed time. there is no other dinner choices as the next dinning place is far away.

The star gazing tour is quite incredible. It is a never-to-be-forgotten holiday memory. The experience of lying under the stars while an expert talks you through what you can see was incredible. The breakfast was delicious too and the staff had prepared a vegetarian one for me, which I requested in advance. The staff are very helpful and kind.

The fact it is a little old and dated actually adds to its quirkiness and charm. I certainly have never stayed anywhere like it.

The observatory shows were excellent and the staff friendly and presented well even though the part presented in English was limited. Stargazing in the open field even though it was so cold was an experience I will never forget.The dinner meal was also excellent. Really refreshing that all staff could speak English so well.

The food was good - half board was worth it. The staff made sure to text us to let us know what time dinner would be served so we wouldn't be late for the next activity.

The contingency plan in the event that skies weren't clear enough for the star gazing was extremely lackadaisical. Staff didn't seem well prepared either. While it definitely wasn't within anyone's control, it could definitely have been planned better.

This place is a total gem! A public observatory, inn, fine dining, Astro physicist tour guides, star gazing in the field & amazing conversations about the universe!! Please don’t miss this experience!

Nothing! The staff will share a schedule of your stay, so please let them know if the timing doesn’t work for you (e.g: 8am breakfast was too early for us and no issues to eat a little later)

The stargazing tour and dinner was spectacular. The stargazing brought us to the attic using a telescope to see the actual stars, followed by the planetarium projecting the stars we saw, and an outdoor camping style, coupled with camp fire to explain the stars location in the sky. French style cuisine was delicious and exquisite using local produce.

Some areas of the Annex wasn't upkeep properly, as there's algae growth at the balcony. Summer has a lot more mosquitoes in the mountains.

Fabulous star gazing tour and experience, staff made an effort to explain it to us in English as well. Food was also excellent. Great experience that is not to be missed!

Nothing, everything was great.

Friendly staff who was always willing to help, even when they did not at first understand our requests.The night;y star gazing experience is fantastic!

stayed at the hotel as liked the novelty of staying in a hotel with an observatory, and it really didn't disappoint. even though the star-gazing tour was led in japanese, so was difficult to follow, the views were very impressive, and the enthusiasm of the staff was enough to carry the experience.rooms were roomy and warm considering it was below zero outside.

the initial impression of the hotel was quite strange. we had been staying in modern hotels up until this point, so seeing a more dated building which is quite out the way meant we had initial reservations. however, these were quickly overcome when we were inside.we did not eat dinner at the hotel, and was quite tricky to find places to eat nearby (but we were there during a holiday period). also the hotel staff were very insistent at having breakfast at a set time which felt a bit high-strung.

The mansionette fits 5 pax and it’s ideal for the family. The heated floor was good as we were all warm during the winter. We totally love the stargazing tour.

NIL.