Best Shirahama Hotels

"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."

"Despite a three-night stay, I definitely wouldn't recommend this hotel! Let me be clear about some major drawbacks: First, there's the steep uphill path leading directly to the hotel. Don't tell me taking a taxi solves the problem. While you *might* be able to catch a taxi to and from the hotel or main attractions (if one is available), getting to the beach, Lawson (convenience store), or any restaurants means you absolutely have to walk up and down this very steep and challenging slope. Had I known about this significant inconvenience in advance, I absolutely would not have booked here. As previous guests have noted, the room had a distinct, unpleasant odor, almost like salted fish – I guess we can just pretend it's a seafood hub. On top of that, there were urine stains on the toilet bowl. Despite them knowing we were checking in with children, no children's amenities were provided. You might wonder why I didn't just ask the **front desk**? Well, that leads to another huge point of frustration. The front desk staff's efficiency is absolutely abysmal, and communication was practically impossible, even with translation software. When I inquired about children's toothbrushes, their baffling response was, 'I booked children to stay, so I can't refund the children's money to me.' After going back and forth with them to no avail, I gave up and ended up having to buy toothbrushes, toothpaste, and slippers for the kids myself. The room's soundproofing was incredibly poor. Children yelling was the least of our concerns; we could clearly hear people walking around upstairs and even the creaking of hinges when neighbors closed their doors. The pool was crowded, chaotic, and most importantly, quite dirty, with sand clearly visible at the bottom. To be frank, while I haven't stayed at a vast number of Marriott hotels, I've certainly experienced a few. This, however, was by far the worst Marriott I've ever encountered, which is particularly shocking given that it's in Japan, a country celebrated for its meticulous standards."

"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."

"Close to Bus stop, Lawson and many restaurant nearby. Staff are very nice and helpful. Room is fairly clean but it smells like its not yet been used for a while, old and not eough air flow. Even the air freshener machine cant help. Also, there is no lift to annex building, be aware if you carry large suitcase."

"After arriving at Shirahama JR Station, we took a bus to Shin-Yuzaki Station, and the hotel was right across the street. It's about a 10-minute walk to Shirahama Beach. We booked a Japanese-style room, and the staff made the beds and cleaned it daily. We stayed for two nights; one night we chose the buffet, which had a good variety, and the other night we had the Japanese set meal, which was also quite good. The hotel is located on a cliff, so the ocean view is a major highlight and definitely worth experiencing. The only minor inconvenience was when it suddenly started raining and we didn't have an umbrella. We asked the front desk, and they told us to ask the service staff at the hotel entrance. However, the service staff wouldn't lend us one. I used a translation app to explain that we just wanted to use it for a walk to the beach, but they kept saying no. Many Japanese hotels have umbrellas at the entrance that guests can freely use, so I'm not sure what the issue was here. Other than that, everything else was great, and we had a very comfortable two-day stay."

"A very good experience. The house is very clean and can accommodate 6 people. But the house agent can explain clearly where to get the house key, but the email instructions are unclear. Otherwise very good."

"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!"

"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."

"景色絕美，一套公寓房，客廳大約4.50平米，地下温泉房➕洗澡大概20多平米，卧室大概20多平米放兩張床還有很大空間。在seamore酒店隔壁，離海舟150米吧，窗外看的是同一片海。非常非常靠近海邊，空間大，可以住多人，有冰箱洗衣機廚具電視，可以自己做飯。缺點是太靠近海邊不在交通幹道旁邊，走到seamore（seamore就在馬路邊）大概5分鐘，就是孤零零幾棟樓住的人也少，晚上回來會覺得有點……衹要衞生打掃好了，房東也會讓提前入住，有問題都回復很快"

"A satisfying choice! Shirarahama Beach is right downstairs. The room is like a suite, with a living room and a bedroom, offering both a bed and a tatami area. Even though it's an older hotel, there's absolutely no musty smell from the tatami, and all the furniture looks brand new. The room has its own indoor onsen, perfect for soaking with our little ones. The amenities are incredibly comprehensive, including a Refa hairdryer, curling iron, and straightener! Plus, a Pola skincare set and face masks. We booked the half-board plan; breakfast was pretty much the same daily, with two time slots to choose from. Dinner, however, was absolutely delicious and filling, with a different menu each day. There were also many yukata colors to choose from. I'll definitely stay here again next time I visit Shirahama."