Hot Springs Hotels in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan

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 location is excellent, very convenient for visiting attractions. However, the largest open-air hot spring doesn't allow phones for photos (everyone is in bathrobes). I saw many photos in guides before, so it was a bit disappointing to find out you can't take pictures. There are also smaller open-air baths in the room, which were a great experience. I really couldn't get used to the set meals; the abalone was too fishy, and the udon soup was very salty. Breakfast was decent though.

A clean and relatively modern hotel sitting on top of a hill with a spectacular view of the harbour. There is an indoor/outdoor onsen on the ground floor and free alcohol and snacks from 3 to 5 pm every afternoon! Great value for money, and a great place to relax and ease back into civilisation if you’ve just come out of the mountains after doing the Kumano Kodo.

Staying alone on a weekday during the off-season, I was given a room on the lowest floor, the 3rd floor (later found out this entire floor was occupied by Chinese guests). There's a platform outside the window that people can walk onto once the window is opened, essentially making it a public balcony, which is a huge safety concern. The overhanging eaves outside the window also felt quite oppressive. However, considering the price of over 700 including two meals, I decided to put up with it. Other aspects, though, were quite good. The dining was excellent; the dinner kaiseki and breakfast buffet were among the best I've had at any onsen hotel. The lobby bar also offered complimentary drinks at night. The staff's attitude was superb.

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.

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.

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.

The location is far from the city, but the hot spring swimming facilities are very good, and there are free snacks at the water bar, which is suitable for a relaxing trip for the whole family.

Choosing a hotel in Shirahama during the peak summer season involves many considerations. We eventually booked this Marriott. Previous reviews mentioned the hotel's steep hill, and having experienced it firsthand, I'd say it's manageable in the scorching summer if you're not lugging bags. However, if you are, it's definitely best to take a taxi directly from Shirahama Station. We actually saw a bus about to depart as we left the station and hopped on, but the walk from the bus stop up that steep, uneven road left both adults and kids exhausted. Before the 3 PM check-in, the lobby offers complimentary chilled plum water. We booked a sea view room, which was perfectly adequate for three adults and one child. The onsen (hot spring bath) on the 11th floor alternates between male and female use daily, and the views from there were quite nice. Breakfast was predominantly Western-style, so if you prefer Japanese options, I wouldn't recommend staying here. We noticed quite a few Western guests, and during peak times, the restaurant felt quite noisy and chaotic.

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.