This seaside town on the Kumano Kodo is super chill. The hotel is about a 10-minute walk from the JR station, on flat ground, so it's easy to pull your luggage. There's also a convenience store along the way if you need to stock up.
I booked a sea-view room, and you can see both the blue hour and the sunrise. The sea air isn't smelly at all.
The kaiseki dinner was excellent, with a Chinese menu, and dishes served one by one. This area is known for tuna, and the sashimi was incredibly fresh and thickly sliced – absolutely superb. You can definitely eat until you're stuffed.
The breakfast was also very unique, and they even offered free noodles at 9 PM. Even though I was full, I couldn't resist trying them, and they were delicious.
The outdoor onsen was fantastic too; my skin felt so smooth after soaking. I highly recommend this place for anyone hiking the Kumano Kodo looking for a relaxing break.
This onsen hotel in Shirahama-cho, Wakayama Prefecture, is primarily renowned for its breathtaking 'ocean view hot springs.' Boasting open-air, mixed-gender baths directly facing the Pacific Ocean, the panoramic views are truly spectacular, and the experience of soaking in the springs with the sea right in front of you is unforgettable—a timeless signature feature. Additionally, the hotel offers several 'kashikiri-buro' (private hot springs) that require queuing for a key, adding an option for more private bathing.
However, in other aspects of the experience, the hotel generally falls short, failing to fully match the grandeur of its views:
• **Mediocre Service**: Compared to the meticulous and heartfelt 'omotenashi' (hospitality) typical of traditional Japanese ryokans, Haishu's service feels more process-driven and standardized. While the staff are polite, they lack proactiveness, giving it the feel of a large resort rather than a cozy private inn.
• **Many Elderly Guests**: The hotel is very popular among older tourists, which contributes to a lively and mainstream atmosphere, lacking some of the tranquility and elegance one might desire. If you're seeking a quiet getaway for two, you might find the environment a bit noisy.
• **Unremarkable Dining**: Reviews for both dinner (kaiseki cuisine) and breakfast, included in the 'one night, two meals' package, are generally 'average.' Although local specialties (like Kishu plums and Kumano beef) are highlighted, the actual taste and presentation are only mediocre. It's worth noting that it's 'not as bad as some online comments suggest,' falling within an acceptable range, but it doesn't offer any surprises and falls short of the dining standards found in top-tier onsen ryokans.
**Summary**:
If you're going solely for the stunning ocean-view hot springs, Haishu is definitely worth a stay—the natural scenery there is unparalleled. However, if you have high expectations for service details, dining quality, or a quiet atmosphere, this hotel might only offer an 'average' experience, and you should adjust your expectations accordingly.
A heads-up to future guests: the rooms with a view offer both smoking and non-smoking options. If you dislike the smell of smoke, definitely avoid selecting a smoking room. The entire room was filled with an unbearable, lingering smoke smell. Furthermore, as it was Japan's Silver Week yesterday, we were unable to switch rooms, which significantly impacted our overall experience negatively. On the positive side, the view was excellent, offering a panoramic overlook of Wakayama Castle.
I was a bit worried about the wooden building, wondering what it would be like, but it looked just like the dilapidated wooden building next door (lol). There were creaky stairs and hallways, and signs above the rooms indicating where the emergency equipment was installed. I even passed my room once (lol).
The door wasn't an auto-lock, but a manual lock. The door opened from the inside, making it difficult to find shoes and slippers. The bathroom was just to the right, but putting my shoes at the back made it inconvenient to get in and out, while putting them at the front made it inconvenient (lol).
Entering the room across a narrow bay, I found it spacious! It was a bright corner room with a great view! My biggest concern was the futon, but it had a 10cm mattress, so it was just as comfortable as a bed!
I didn't notice any smells or anything. The ocean was right below the window, so it looked like I could go fishing (lol).
It was full of interesting things to point out, and while I found it amusing to joke about wanting to take pictures of dilapidated buildings, I wouldn't recommend it if you're looking for luxury.
For me, it was surprisingly good ☺
Having stayed at Granvia Okayama before and been very impressed, I didn't hesitate to choose this hotel again for my trip to Wakayama. The quality and service were consistently excellent, as always. Although the room wasn't huge, it had everything we needed, and there was plenty of space for two people to open two large suitcases without any problems. The hotel's location is also fantastic; an LV store is right downstairs with a good selection of bags, perfect for browsing. During our stay, we even caught a Hokkaido fair at the adjacent mall, which was a delightful bonus. It was super convenient for getting to the Tama Densha, Wakayama Castle, and Kuroshio Market.
Make sure to book the Nisshokan if it's close to the 15th of the ***** month; you'll be rewarded with a moonlit Pacific Ocean, a million times more beautiful than the sunrise Pacific. The onsen (hot spring) is fantastic, and the views of Mount Myoken are stunning—definitely go in the evening. Breakfast is incredibly rich and varied. As for dinner, there's plenty of fresh tuna. In short, this is the top hotel choice in Kii-Katsuura. I was hesitant before coming, but after arriving, I feel that booking Hotel Urashima was the best money spent on my entire trip to Japan!
We've stayed at Dormy Inn in many locations across Japan, and our entire family loves it. Although the rooms at Dormy Inn are typically quite small, they offer incredible value for money. Being able to soak in a hot spring every day after returning exhausted is a particularly worthwhile experience. The hotel provides complimentary ice cream, Yakult, and massage chairs. Plus, at 9:30 PM, they even offer free soy sauce ramen. These added perks are definitely a major draw.
Personally, I find Dormy Inn's breakfasts to be excellent across Japan, with the exception of Tokyo, which is just average. They always incorporate local specialties, with dishes like beef bowls, natto, and onsen eggs being prime examples. The Dormy Inn in Wakayama even offered cantaloupe, which was a delightful surprise, especially considering a single wedge of Yubari melon in Hokkaido can cost 25 RMB.
Very nice staff. We could communicate with our broken Japanese and English just fine! The rooms were very clean and we felt at home. The breakfast was nice. I’d definitely stay there again!
I came here because of Detective Conan, and the hotel's location is just incredible – facing the sea, absolutely stunning! However, since the hotel is in a small town, taking the bus during peak season can be really inconvenient. You can contact the hotel to arrange a taxi, but most local drivers don't speak English. There are many great places to eat in town, but they tend to close early. The hotel's onsen is very comfortable; soaking in the hot spring while listening to the sea is a wonderful experience. The hotel is also very close to Engetsu Island, where you can watch the sunset 🌄 – it's truly amazing and perfect for photos! The only drawback is that the facilities are a bit old, probably due to its long history!
I was in Osaka for the weekend and decided to take a spontaneous trip to Wakayama and Shirahama. To my surprise, hotel prices in Shirahama had significantly increased, and some were even fully booked. I figured it might be due to Halloween.
The Shirahama Marriott is one of the few international chain hotels in Wakayama, located right next to the famous Shirarahama Beach. The price wasn't too outrageous, so I quickly booked a package that included dinner and breakfast (one night, two meals). Overall, it offered decent value for money.
We arrived in Shirahama quite late. It was less than a 10-minute taxi ride from the JR station. Check-in was quick, and they acknowledged my Marriott membership, but unfortunately, there were no benefits offered, which felt a bit stingy 😅.
I booked a basic city view room. It was indeed a rare spacious room for Japan and quite clean. However, we were given the lowest floor with no view to speak of, and there was a slight, odd smell in the room. While it wasn't a major issue, it did detract a bit from the experience.
The dinner included in the package was a Japanese Kaiseki meal, which was excellent. Each dish was served with a strong sense of ceremony, and although the portions were small, the presentation, plating, and taste were all superb. There weren't many guests in the evening; only 2-3 tables were occupied in the large restaurant, making for a quiet and enjoyable meal. But I wondered, if the hotel was full, where did all the other guests eat? 😂 Breakfast was a Western-style buffet with a good selection, including some Japanese dishes. The taste was average, but it was perfectly fine for a filling meal.
The hotel's top floor features a public onsen bathhouse and private onsen rooms. I visited both in the morning and evening. There weren't many guests. The onsen had both indoor and outdoor pools, which were very pleasant for soaking in the early autumn weather, as it wasn't too cold outside. From both the onsen and the adjacent relaxation area, you could see the beautiful Shirarahama Beach in the distance. I went up early the next morning to watch the sunrise. The sunrise itself was good, but the morning glow was absolutely stunning. Under the dazzling fiery clouds, the sea was tinged red, gently lapping against the pure white sand.
It's only a 3-4 minute walk from the Marriott to the beach. The beach is beautiful, not very long, with a perfect bay shape, and the sand is incredibly white and fine. It's so clean that it almost feels unreal. A stroll along the beach is nice; Engetsu Island isn't far and is worth seeing. Along the coast, there are several free public foot onsen, and the historic Sakinoyu Outdoor Onsen is just a short walk further.
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I had a wonderful stay at Shirahama Terrace Hotel. The location is perfect — just a short walk from the beach with a beautiful ocean view. The room was clean, spacious, and very comfortable. I especially loved the onsen facilities; they were relaxing and well-maintained. The staff were friendly and helpful throughout my stay. Breakfast was delicious, with a good mix of Japanese and Western options. I would definitely recommend this hotel to anyone visiting Shirahama.
Very nice stay, very friendly & welcoming staff and the room we had had the view on the garden which is beautiful! The common area is nice for sitting down for a drink with friends!
Nice hotel, good services, every staff Nice to you, have free drinks all the time, not only coffee, room is big, views are good, free packages that's was very nice, food is good too, the insen was very nice. If come again wakahama Will come to choose again this hotel.
We stayed in this lovely family hotel for a night, we opted for room stay with dinner and breakfast. There's no shops or restaurant near by, so highly suggest to choose the stay with meals option, otherwise there's cooking facility within the room also, so I think it's possible to cook your own meal if necessary. Location - the hotel is just round the corner of the famous Shirasaki Ocean Park, we even had a good view of the park from our room. There's parking space right in front of the hotel building, so it's very handy. We cycled to the Shirasaki Ocean Park then to the hotel, so it worked out perfect. There's a very steep slop going up to the hotel though, but it wasn't an issue for us as we pushed out bikes up. Facilities - this is a family run hotel which believes was built a while ago, so can't compare it to all those new built hotels. The ”room” we stayed is more like a mini flat, it has a big kitchen, good sized bathroom with changing area, a separate toilet, a living room, bedroom and an extra ”sitting” area. The entire flat is in traditional Japanese style which we loved, and it has all facilities that made our stay comfortable. It also has coined washing machine and driers. We could even access to rooftop on the 4th floor to view the sunset. If you're looking for a quiet place to have quality time, then this is a good place to do so. There's also ”public bath” within the hotel, it's small but wasn't an issue for us. There's also shower and bath in the room also if you want some privacy. Food - all food was cooked and prepared by the hotel owner, and she's a talented chef! Dinner was impressive, breakfast was standard. The hotel owner is very friendly and lovely, it's definitely ”the place” to stay if you're visiting the area. We highly recommend it.
Great location, very close to Kumano Kodo trail. The constrainer is very clean with modern room and furniture, kitchen with everything you will need to stay comfortably. They even provided a washer/dryer combo in the bathroom. I only wish there is an option to have dinner in the near by restaurants, instead of cooking. Since we were tired after all day hiking. It’s great to have the option to fix your own breakfast and get an early start for the hike.
Each room has a sea view, which is very healing The environment of this hotel has a Mediterranean design There is a parking lot in the hotel The hotel staff is friendly and polite The environment of this hotel has a Mediterranean design Each room has a sea view, which is very healing It is a good place to come with your lover
You need to stay at Shojoshin-in if you come to Koyasan! There's an English speaking receptionist when you check in, a Chinese monk and you can always use google translate to communicate with the Japanese-only staff/monks! There's goma prayers at 1pm, a tour of the temple only for lodgers at 4pm, dinner served at 530pm (& the food is super flavourful), you can do sutra copying in your room (pay at reception) and pay for a handwritten goshuin as well! Shojoshin-in is the closest temple to Okunoin's entrance so its super convenient to do a night tour (run by an external vendor). Main doors close at 5pm but you can enter through the side door. I met a Japanese lady whom stays only at Shojoshin-in when she comes to Koyasan every year! I miss this place already :(
This time I traveled with three friends, and it was a really fulfilling stay. The large public bath was very spacious, and the bathroom attached to the room was also very clean. It was equipped with the latest washing machine, so it had many great features. I would like to stay here again.
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