Hot Springs Hotels in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan

I've been wanting to visit Shirahama for almost 10 years, so I picked this onsen resort, rumored to be among Asia's top 11. For Japanese onsen hotels, all-inclusive is a must! However, my overall experience was just so-so, probably because I've stayed at so many Japanese onsen hotels before. It definitely boasts an unbeatable sea view; I booked a garden view room, and when I tried to upgrade to a sea view at check-in, the front desk attendant said none were available. Yet, when I entered my room, I could still see the ocean! The sea view here isn't as breathtaking as in Izu. From Shirahama Station, there's no shuttle, so we had to take a taxi, which was about 2500 yen. The most impressive part of the hot springs here is the co-ed open-air ocean view bath – the scenery is truly incredible! The food was only decent, incomparable to what we experienced at Kusatsu Onsen, Yamato no Sato in Izu, Lake Kawaguchiko at Mount Fuji, or even Gero Onsen. The staff weren't particularly enthusiastic either. There were a lot of Chinese tourists, some from Hong Kong and Macau, but very few Japanese tourists, mostly elderly ones. This onsen hotel seems to be a popular spot hyped up by Chinese travelers! If you're only visiting Kansai, Shirahama is definitely worth a trip. But if you're going to other parts of Japan, it might not be worth making a special journey for.

The hotel is situated at a secluded corner of Wakayama prefecture. It is much preferable to drive here rather than relying on the infrequent hotel shuttle. Public transport is otherwise non existent. There are no restaurants around the hotel. However the hotel provides delicious meals with abundant fresh seafood. The in room dining experience is superb. The hotel staff service is impeccable. The room has a spectacular sea view allowing you to see the sunset on clear days. The onsen also faces the sea which provides a relaxing experience. A downside is that the hotel does not seem to sanitize the slippers for indoor use. All hotel guests had to change to their slippers to access their indoor facilities.

Facilities: Typical Marriott standard. I specifically booked a Japanese-Western style room to experience it, and indeed, the combination was a bit 'unusual'. The good thing is the tatami area can be used to store a lot of items! Cleanliness: Tidy and clean. Environment: Although many people complain about the 'hill' issue, since we took taxis up and down, I didn't feel the need to complain much. Walking up and down the slope without luggage can indeed be a bit tiring, but I just took it as exercise (I can understand other reviewers' complaints). Service: Very good! We arrived at Shirahama Station around 8 PM, and there were no buses, so we had to wait for a taxi. It was raining and snowing, and no taxi came for a long time, leaving us shivering from the cold… I called the hotel to ask if they could pick us up, and the lady at the front desk quickly arranged for a colleague to pick us up from the station! I'm very grateful for their 'help in time of need'! (No charge) Also, the front desk reception, breakfast guidance, and greetings were all very warm and friendly 👍 A good stay overall!

The room was very spacious and had no strange smells. The hotel staff even helped move our stored luggage into the room and provided complimentary snacks and water, which was a very thoughtful touch! The TV showed the occupancy of various public areas, which was super considerate. The hot springs were also very comfortable, with good ambiance and cleanliness. After a dip, they offered popsicles, which was a nice treat. There were two large bookshelves nearby where you could pick out your favorite manga to read, and right outside was the massage chair area – absolutely perfect! In the evening, they offered free late-night noodles that were quite tasty, and there was a self-service drink bar. The breakfast buffet had a wide variety of choices, and I even got to try local specialty sushi, which was a unique experience. There was an electronic scale at the stairwell for weighing luggage, which was very convenient. I'd love to visit again if I get the chance!

After a great stay at the Kuaian Hotel by the rice paddies, I decided to check out the Kuaian Nachiura store, which I'd been eyeing for a while. It was about a ten-minute walk with my luggage, and the hotel was right by the road, with cherry blossoms in full bloom. My room had a fantastic ocean view, and I could even see Bentenjima island from my balcony. I managed to catch the sunset on the beach, which was wonderfully quiet and peaceful – I loved it. In the evening, I enjoyed another relaxing hot spring bath. For breakfast the next day, we had a reservation for 8:15 AM, but I woke up early to catch the sunrise and thought we might be able to eat earlier. To my surprise, we were politely turned away and told to stick to our reservation time (it turns out breakfast is quite a formal affair!). We realized we were a bit too casual and were heading back to our room to wait when the friendly elderly gentleman at reception called us back and found us a table. We had a beautiful view of a corner of Bentenjima island while enjoying a very formal breakfast. It was a wonderful experience overall.

The hotel is conveniently located right by a bus stop. The onsen hotel offers a great variety of food. The dinner buffet included sashimi, and breakfast featured local specialties. The Japanese-style tatami beds were very comfortable. A pleasant surprise was the complimentary drinks bar, perfect for enjoying after a relaxing bath.

A traditional Japanese onsen hotel with comfortable tatami mats. The front desk was very efficient and made an effort to speak English, which was a touching touch. The onsen has three pools, and they were almost always empty, with no other guests in the hallways. However, the dining area was quite crowded, with food being served in an orderly manner but quickly cleared. The beach is a one-minute walk away, and the water is crystal clear, with schools of fish visible near the shore. This is what a vacation should be like!

Overall was a good experience and nice environment, food was good. Improvement:- It will be good to have buggy service for customers regardless of time as some of us may have big and many luggages to carry by hand to the room. It will be better to have more different variety and choice of dinner food the next day,  as we were dining two days with almost same food.

It was conveniently located near JR Wakayama Station. Despite my late check-in, the staff was very welcoming. The rooms were clean and well-maintained, and like other Route Inns, the large bath, while not large, was well-maintained and provided ample space to relax after a long day of travel. Breakfast also offered a wide variety of options and was very satisfying for the price. I would love to stay here again if I have the chance.

The hotel facilities are a bit dated, but well-maintained. The white sand beach right outside is absolutely beautiful, and I heard the sand was actually imported from Australia! The half-board (dinner and breakfast) was decent, nothing spectacular but no complaints either.