Hot Springs Hotels in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan

After much deliberation between Haizhou and Seamore, we ultimately chose Haizhou because my travel companion wanted to experience a Japanese tatami room. Plus, for a trip to Japan, staying at a Japanese *onsen* hotel just felt right. Since it's a sea-view hotel, opting for a sea-view room was a must, and the room looked exactly like the photos on their official website. It was quite a unique experience to take off our shoes upon check-in, and walking around the hotel barefoot was indeed very relaxing. Based on reviews, the food was said to be average, so we only booked accommodation. The complimentary afternoon tea and late-night ramen were, admittedly, quite ordinary. We also considered that we'd be heading to Kumano Kodo the next day and rushing back to the airport on our last day, so we likely wouldn't have much time for meals at the hotel. In the end, we had all our meals at Seamore, trying both their sea bream noodles and the popular Japanese set meal. The plum water provided in our room was delicious and so refreshing after an *onsen* bath. The private baths weren't as difficult to book as rumored, perhaps because we visited outside of peak season. At night, the sea view was completely dark, but we could enjoy stargazing instead. On our last morning, I visited the large mixed-gender public bath. While I could see the ocean, I also noticed some floating debris in the water, which was a bit unsettling and made me wonder if the baths we used at night had similar issues. Across the road, there's a charming Hawaiian-themed bar, and a few steps further, an artist-run bagel cafe. We had breakfast there on our last day, and the bagels, freshly baked by the artist herself, were absolutely delicious. In summary, this is a well-established, popular *onsen* hotel with a convenient location, decent room views, and satisfactory service. However, the facilities, cleanliness, and dining options could certainly be improved.

I visited once in the summer of 2019 while pregnant with my second child, and it was a wonderful experience. The place was beautiful, clean, with excellent service, and the food served was delicious. This year, with my younger child grown, we wanted to revisit and relive those memories, but it was quite disappointing. The room was untidy, and the cleanliness had significantly deteriorated. Sleeping on the tatami, I woke up at 4 AM due to intense itching on my left shoulder, neck, and side. I suspect it was fleas, perhaps from the old tatami mat or mattress, as I tend to sleep on my left side. I didn't get any good sleep that night. The food quality had drastically declined; it felt like eating in a large cafeteria. The restaurant staff's attitude was also quite perfunctory; not outright rude, but it left a very poor impression. The humble service, smiles, and respect we experienced during our first visit were completely absent. We stayed for two days, and Saturday, our second day, was even worse. The Japanese dinner was supposed to be served course by course, meaning one dish at a time, with the next served only after the current one was finished, a plate per person, paced according to the guest's eating speed. Instead, a small dish was served to everyone, which we quickly finished. We tried to ask for the next course, but it didn't come. We were left waiting awkwardly for a long time, and then only a tiny bit more food would arrive, which we'd devour instantly. Then we'd be back to staring with pleading eyes, practically begging for more food. Finally, we realized that it wasn't about our table finishing a dish before the next was served. It was a mass cafeteria system, with over a dozen tables and families. Dinner started promptly at 5:30 PM, and even if we ate quickly, we had to wait for all the other tables to finish their first dish. Then, a cart would be brought out, and all tables would be served the second dish simultaneously. We were all separate parties, but families with kids who ate faster still had to wait for groups that were drinking to finish their first course before our second dish arrived. This is absolutely not Japanese dining service; it's a completely militarized cafeteria system. You have to wait for all fifteen-plus tables to finish their first course before the second one is served. Traditional Japanese meals are usually served individually, often in small portions. Here, if you eat quickly, you'll be left with nothing, just sitting there watching others drink and chat. Their 'Japanese' style amounts to serving you a single bite, and once you're done, you just stare at everyone else, because you won't get a second portion until they decide it's time. Having degenerated to this point, I will never eat their food again. It was sheer torment. The hotel's direct access to the beach right downstairs is a definite geographical advantage. We might consider staying here again if the kids specifically want to play in the sand, but if they're not keen on the beach, I will definitely not return. What a pity! I wanted to find a photo to post, but frankly, there was nothing worth sharing. Perhaps I should just post a photo of the broken TV, which they claimed had a loose connection and needed the cabinet dismantled for repair.

Very good. The service of the store is very good. The front desk can speak Chinese. The people are super gentle. The sea view is worth it. It is very beautiful. It is very comfortable to soak in a hot spring after a day of shopping. Recommended! (The room is a bit big and may be a bit cold. Then my friend and I are not used to the Japanese breakfast. But it is still very convenient and comfortable to eat in the morning. It depends on your opinion.

The highlight of this hotel will be the seaview onsen. It’s huge with 3 floors. Service is very welcoming. The lobby, lounge area and restaurant are all very bright, modern and stylish. The rooms are however like entering a different world from 30 years ago, which definitely needs a major lift. The stains on the brown colored carpet are very eye catching. The beds are comfortable. We tried both the breakfast and dinner buffet, I suggest you may try to eat outside unless you really want to stay in the hotel for the rest of the day.

Great location as just opposite bus station. Opposite the road within 5min walk will reach supermarket and Daiso. The room is spacious. Onsen is open from night until 10am next day. The hotel staff friendly, helpful and arrange the futon for us. You also can choose your own amenities after check in. Free coffee, tea and some juice at hotel lobby and selected floor

I stayed for 2 nights and experienced two different room types: an ocean-view tatami room on the 7th floor (pictured) and another ocean-view tatami room on the 1st floor (with a private hot spring bath). **Pros:** 1. The location offers stunning ocean views. Just a short walk from the hotel (turn left, then left again), you'll find expansive ocean vistas; even if you haven't booked an ocean-view room, you can still enjoy the sea here and take evening strolls along the coast. 2. Complimentary hot and cold beverages are available, though with time restrictions. 3. There's a public hot spring bath (onsen) on the 2nd floor, complete with yukata (Japanese robes) and a comprehensive range of toiletries, including shampoo, conditioner, body wash, facial cleanser, makeup remover, toner, and lotion. A special touch is the selection of nearly 10 different brands of shampoos and conditioners you can choose from. For rooms with a private bath, Refa hairdryers are provided, and you can enjoy both indoor and outdoor bathing options. It's lovely to soak under the stars at night. 4. Complimentary ramen is served at 9 PM. During my two-day stay, it was 'black ramen' both nights. 5. The front desk staff primarily speak Japanese and English (no Chinese), but simple English communication was smooth. Overall service was excellent. Despite the remote surroundings, the hotel interior felt vibrant and welcoming. The dinner and breakfast staff were also very attentive and particularly friendly towards children. 6. The hotel is conveniently located less than a 10-minute walk from Kii-Katsuura JR Station, making it easy to visit the Whale Museum in Taiji and explore the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes. **Cons:** 1. The walk from Kii-Katsuura JR Station to the hotel with luggage was quite challenging. The pedestrian path is narrow, with cars driving by very close, though thankfully there wasn't much traffic. The hotel also does not offer a shuttle service. 2. The room facilities are a bit dated and show their age, but they remain fully functional. 3. Since we stayed in tatami rooms, we had to lay out our futons ourselves each night. 4. Due to booking two different room types, on the second day we had to check out by 10 AM, store our luggage, and then re-check in at 3 PM. Luckily, we were out exploring for most of the day, so it wasn't a major inconvenience. 5. The rooms use traditional keys (not key cards), which means you have to remember to manually lock the door when leaving. This felt a little inconvenient. **In summary,** this is a charming onsen hotel offering pleasant scenery and warm, attentive service. I would highly recommend it.

The hotel is just a 5-minute walk from JR Wakayama Station. The breakfast was fantastic, and it boasts a public onsen bath and sauna. They also offer complimentary udon noodles in the evening. The staff were wonderfully attentive. The rooms are a good size, and the price offers excellent value for money! We also enjoyed sushi at Umeya, conveniently located right opposite the hotel, where we received a complimentary sushi dish with a coupon from the hotel.

Hotel is generally clean and tidy as usual in Japan. Free parking which was excellent compare to costly parking in bigger cities. We loved the private onsen, our room was massive!

Loved the vibe of this place. It felt very traditional and was a super unique experience. The included dinner and breakfast were alright, not quite my speed but I enjoyed it for the most part. The morning ceremony at 6:45am was cool, and we were given a quick tour and history lesson after. The room was warm and clean, even after it snowed quite a bit overnight. The bath was great too. I’d definitely stay here again.

It is very convenient to stay overnight on foot. Although it is a youth hostel, it is very quiet. The facilities of the homestay are very complete, and the public area of ​​the rest area is very comfortable. It would be better if lunch boxes were provided. If the weather is bad, I definitely don’t want to go out for meals.