4-Star Hotels in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan

Couldn’t deny that the onsen is probably the best that I ever been! And there are few to choose from which are really nice. The room itself however is pretty old. Food is really good and great selection both for morning and dinner in buffet style. Hilltop view is also the best in the area.

We landed at 8 PM, boarded the JR at 8:40 PM, and reached Wakayama Station by 10 PM. The hotel's location was incredibly convenient – just about 100 meters to the right after exiting the central gate. The receptionist was Chinese, exceptionally friendly and welcoming, which really helped us relax after a long day of travel. They also provided us with a local map and recommended places where we could still find yakitori at that late hour. The room was relatively spacious, and having triple rooms is genuinely convenient for families traveling together. However, the breakfast, which came highly recommended by others, set my expectations a bit too high. Personally, I found it relatively simple with limited choices, though it was sufficient to fill you up.

There are only a handful of top-rated hotels in Wakayama. I deliberated between this one and the one located at the JR station, ultimately choosing this hotel because of reviews mentioning Wakayama Castle views and a good breakfast, though I was slightly worried about transportation. My actual experience proved transport to be very convenient; a bus ride was just over ten minutes and dropped me off right at the hotel's doorstep. After checking in and going up to my room, I eagerly pulled back the curtains and was instantly thrilled to see Wakayama Castle, majestically framed by the twilight hills and a purple sky. The room was quite spacious, featuring a small sofa seating area by the window. There was ample space to open two suitcases without any issue. After a quick tidy-up, I couldn't wait to head out and explore. Though Wakayama Castle may not be as renowned as the four great ancient castles, its charm lies in its remarkably welcoming and accessible design. The path circling the castle walls is open to the public, and you can easily enter by crossing a small bridge over the moat. It was pleasant to see locals strolling and jogging around. After a half-lap exploration, I found the perfect spot for night photos and was extremely pleased with the view. Breakfast on the second day was served at a Japanese-Western fusion restaurant downstairs. The food selection was extensive, and the quality was excellent—truly impeccable. There's also a soba noodle shop within the building, which was delicious and reasonably priced. I had read reviews previously suggesting there weren't many dining options near the hotel, but actually, there are several restaurants and a convenience store right inside the building, which was fantastic. Overall, it was a very satisfying stay.

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.

On my first day in Japan, I checked into this hotel, which is incredibly conveniently located right around the corner from the JR station exit. It was absolutely no hassle with luggage. The hotel room was clean and featured large floor-to-ceiling windows. Unfortunately, I arrived too late to experience the rooftop spa. Breakfast comes highly recommended, offering panoramic sea views through its three walls of floor-to-ceiling windows, and the food selection was abundant. From the JR platform, it's easy to transfer to services heading to attractions like the Cat Train line and Shirahama. The commercial complex on the hotel's second floor houses a food street and a local artisan market. Directly from the hotel's second floor, you can access the Wakayama City Library. If you have time, I highly recommend visiting it with children; it's spread over three floors, and my child was thrilled to discover original Detective Conan manga there.

Facilities: Japanese-style design Sanitation: Clean and tidy Environment: Central location of Shirahama, next to Shirarahama Beach, every room can see the sea, super beautiful Service: Upon arrival, they actively helped with luggage, every aspect was very delicate, the hot spring was very comfortable, and dinner was ordered when checking in, one night and two meals is great

Mecure, time to lift your game! It’s summer in Japan and the swimming pool is empty & closed.?? Surrounding landscaped areas not well maintained. Rooms & corridors delight you with a musty aged smell that takes time getting used to. Positives: View of surrounding coastline excellent, sunrise beautiful. Room’s good size. Buffet Breakfast decent with options Afternoon & Evening free snacks & drinks a bonus. Negs: Customer service adequate but can’t say a lot of enthusiasm. Room & corridor’s musty The place needs renovation Need car for access hotel. No pool operating in summer???

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 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.

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.