Karatsu Seaside Hotel East Deluxe Double Room
The hotel is about an hour and a half by train from Fukuoka. You can reach Higashi-Karatsu Station and then either reserve the shuttle bus in advance (available between 3 PM and 6 PM) or use other transportation options like taxis, community buses, or city buses to get there.
There is also a direct express bus from Fukuoka Airport's domestic terminal to Karatsu, making it convenient to access via public transportation. I personally stopped by Meinohama Starbucks and toured Karatsu city before taking a city bus to a nearby location and walking to the hotel.
Check-in is at 6 PM. The left side is the main building (West Wing), and the right side is the new building (East Wing). Since the two buildings are separate, you need to check in at the one you reserved. Dining areas and hot springs are also separate for each wing.
The East Wing's basic single room is the Deluxe Double Room type, offering 30 square meters of space with a balcony. All rooms in the East Wing have ocean views, allowing guests to enjoy the sight and sound of waves. You can experience the wonders of tides right in front of you.
Upon checking into the East Wing, you receive a room key and an additional key for the East Wing's exclusive spa lounge. This key grants unlimited access to the hot springs, large baths, spa, swimming pool, rooftop, and infinity pool during your stay. Towels, toiletries, and robes are provided, so you only need to bring yourself.
Except for the large baths, you need to wear swimwear to use the lounge facilities. Swimwear can be rented at the spa reception or brought by guests. The rooftop view is stunning, offering a panorama of the sea, Nijinomatsubara pine forest, mountains, and rivers.
The hot springs are open-air, with both outdoor baths and large baths offering ocean views. However, privacy is somewhat compromised due to the openness. 🤣 Still, the facilities are excellent, making it a great place for families or couples to enjoy together (shared lounge and rooftop).
I used the facilities three times during my stay: evening, morning, and late morning. The hot spring water is seawater-based, so it doesn't feel silky but rather salty. The temperature is relatively low at 39–41°C, though I prefer around 44°C for a more relaxing experience.
Dinner is a buffet. The theme was tuna season, so there was an abundance of tuna dishes. Famous Yobuko squid was also stacked high. Saga beef shabu-shabu and steak were freshly prepared at live cooking stations. Tempura options ranged from squid to shrimp.
There were also dishes like eel sushi and fried anago (sea eel), offering a wide variety of food. Desserts, fruits, and ice cream added to the lavish spread. After dinner, I took a walk along the beach, accessible directly from the hotel's back gate. The night view of Karatsu Castle, which isn't visible from the rooms, was impressive.
Having worked overnight and traveled without sleep, I fell asleep shortly after 9 PM. I woke up at 4 AM the next day and joined the morning hot spring session at 5:30 AM. Immersing myself in the tranquil waves felt like a divine experience.
Breakfast was at 7 AM. With no morning plans, I leisurely enjoyed breakfast for nearly an hour. I would rate breakfast higher than dinner. Highlights included Saga beef hamburg steak, Yobuko squid dim sum, omelets, mentaiko, sea bream sashimi, three types of grilled fish, and squid pickles.
The clam-filled white miso soup had a rich seafood flavor and was refreshing. I also had a separate dessert time, plating fruit assortments, two types of pudding, and three types of bread, paired with coffee. Both the egg pudding and mango pudding were excellent.
The slightly frozen mango slices in the fruit assortment melted in my mouth, revitalizing my taste buds. After breakfast, I took a walk in Nijinomatsubara, connected to the hotel. The phytoncides cleared my mind.
At 10 AM, I returned to my room and visited the hot springs again. The hotel offers 10 types of free ice cream. I enjoyed some while relaxing on the balcony, gazing at the sea. I casually took a photo of the sky and captured a National Geographic-worthy shot of an eagle hunting a snake. What a moment!