5-Star Hotels in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan

The “sea view” was very disappointing and honestly not what I expected at all when booking this room. What made the experience worse was the pricing issue. After my booking became non-refundable, the hotel price dropped by around 30%, which was shocking. I’ve never had this happen before. The explanation that the lower price was a different non-refundable rate doesn’t fully justify such a big drop. On top of that, trip.com customer service only gave me an update after I followed up four times, which was frustrating. Check-in was also a poor experience. We arrived around 9pm with a child, and there was no staff at the ground floor to help with luggage at all, even though the reception is on the 17th floor. After check-in, there was again no assistance with luggage, which was very inconvenient when travelling with a child. Despite my booking clearly stating one adult and one child, there were no kids’ amenities provided, not even a child’s toothbrush.

Grand Mercure Awaji Island boasts unparalleled sea views of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge and the Seto Inland Sea. Its excellent location, however, makes it best suited for guests traveling by car. Our sea-view room was spacious and comfortable, with floor-to-ceiling windows that made the morning sea sunrise a daily spectacle. Both breakfast and dinner offered a wide variety of dishes; we especially recommend the Awaji Island milk and local onion specialties. However, dining options nearby are limited, meaning you'll likely rely on the hotel's restaurant for dinner. Without a car, finding other dining spots would require a taxi. The hotel service was attentive, and the front desk staff spoke fluent English, providing helpful guides to local attractions. While the rooftop open-air hot spring bath isn't natural, it was uncrowded, peaceful, and incredibly relaxing with its sea views. On the downside, the facilities are a bit dated, and there's a noticeable lack of family-friendly entertainment options. Overall, this hotel is ideal for guests seeking serene sea views and a relaxed pace, offering particularly excellent value for money during the off-season.

A companion left first, and before the check-out time came, and before the key was handed over to the counter, someone knocked on the door. I was taking a bath in the room at the time. I was a little embarrassed, and I was afraid that the other person would just open the door and come in, so I opened the door while wearing a bath towel. The service staff was frightened and left quickly. After check-out, due to poor communication, we did not get on the shuttle bus. We had to ask the hotel to call a taxi and give us a phone number so that we could contact us by ourselves. Afterwards, they showed that our phone could not be used, so we changed the call. The hotel assisted. The hotel helped solve the incident later, but I was a little overwhelmed at the moment. There are free Yakult, hot spring baths (two of which can be reserved) and late-night snacks (udon noodles); the breakfast is Japanese-style and quite rich. It's a bit far from Kinosaki Onsen.

I booked a corner suite, and the room was huge with an amazing view. It had a massive jacuzzi, which was perfect for a relaxing soak after a day of shopping – I felt completely refreshed and ready to go again the next day! Though, I have to say, for Kobe, the price wasn't exactly cheap, so it really depends on what you're looking for. During the day, there are malls and an Aeon supermarket around the hotel, but there are no convenience stores nearby at night, which was a bit inconvenient. So, remember to stock up before heading back to the hotel. I didn't book breakfast as it seemed to be a set menu, which I'm not a fan of. Overall, it was a good experience. I'd definitely choose this hotel again if I come back to Kobe.

The room was spacious and comfortable, providing a serene atmosphere for relaxation. The onsen facilities, along with the provided Japanese bath suits and slippers, added a delightful touch to the experience. The breakfast buffet featured a variety of healthy Japanese options, which I found both satisfying and nourishing. Additionally, the view of Kobe Tower from my room was a charming highlight. The hotel's design reflects a refined minimalistic luxury, creating an elegant and calming environment. Overall, I highly recommend this hotel for anyone seeking a blend of comfort and traditional Japanese hospitality.

The room was clean overall and service was quite good. But my stay at the hotel ended on a low note. On my check-out day I decided to have breakfast at the hotel restaurant on the 2nd floor. The menu included a ”Continental Breakfast” (at 2000 yen), for which I could choose between toast/croissant/danish, different juices, and coffee or tea. I assumed that the above choices are breakfast items with options, and expected a normal ”Continental Breakfast” which usually includes an egg, bacon/sausage/ham, and some potato fries etc. It turns out that this continental breakfast includes *only* 3 pieces of toasted bread (they later gave me 2 additional pieces because the original 3 were too burned), along with juice and coffee, charging me 2000 yen just for these. I felt this is a rip-off even for a hotel breakfast, and misleading.

Good price with a nice view. View of the bridge during the day is breathtaking. The new wing’s rooms are a lot nicer. Not much service. No one helps you with luggage when you arrive. And staff don’t look too helpful or happy. The hotel is near outlet and easy drive to Kobe city centre. Breakfast is good with a lot of bread variety. You need to bring your room towel to public bath. For this price I wouldn’t mind staying there again.

The hotel is nestled in Meriken Park, offering truly stunning views; the hotel itself is a scenic spot. The room size and facilities met expectations. I had researched beforehand and booked an East-facing room. I made a mistake when booking and ended up with a non-refundable special offer room, which was slightly smaller. However, the bed faced the balcony, so if you're an early riser, you can actually catch the sunrise from this room. The only downside is that the hotel might have been open for a while and hasn't been maintained very well. The cleanliness wasn't ideal, especially for Japan. There was a lot of dust on the ceiling directly above the air conditioning vent, which looked a bit messy. I hope the hotel pays more attention to these details. I had read in guides that it's best to take the shuttle bus or a taxi to the hotel because it's uphill and inconvenient with luggage. However, there's an escalator to the left of the hotel, which is perfectly fine for carrying suitcases. Just be aware that it stops operating after a certain time at night, so keep that in mind when checking in. Due to a flight delay, we were supposed to arrive at 4 PM, but it got pushed to the evening. We landed quickly, took the airport bus to Sannomiya, and easily found the hotel shuttle pick-up point. We were lucky to catch the 10:30 PM hotel shuttle. Upon arrival, we also bought some food and drinks at the convenience store on the first floor of the hotel lobby. This is the only convenience store in the vicinity, and it closes at 11 PM. Overall, the highlight of this hotel is its scenery. You can take your time to fully appreciate the beauty of Kobe Port – it's an experience worth having. The drawback is that it's a bit far from Sannomiya's shopping centers, which can affect your subsequent plans.

Overall, a wonderful place. We highly recommend it. It was a wonderful walk from the station to the hotel, and we were greeted with the utmost courtesy, explained everything, and shown around. We were shown to our room and given instructions. We booked a traditional room with futons, and the view from the window was simply stunning. The onsen includes two hot springs, a comfortable changing area with massage chairs, a sauna, and a cold plunge pool. They give free passes to seven public baths in the village. There's a shuttle that takes you to various walking spots. The prices are reasonable. The breakfast buffet was wonderful. We were very satisfied and would love to come back!

The hotel itself isn't up to par. The amenities provided are quite subpar; the toothbrush, for instance, was so rough it made my gums bleed. Right from check-in, they try to upsell you to a more expensive room. If you refuse, they deliberately assign you a low-floor room with a terrible view – I'm convinced it's intentional. So, if you want a decent experience, you're practically forced to upgrade. After upgrading, they cheerfully provide a hotel map and some greenhouse coupons. Otherwise, you just get a key and that's it. While I can't pinpoint any specific service issues, there was an overall 'off' and unsettling vibe. Even the renowned architecture nearby is poorly maintained. You can't truly appreciate the details; it only looks decent from a distance. This is quite rare in Japan, where I've always found people meticulous about maintenance. This place, however, completely overturned my expectations. Overall, it feels like quite a desolate and depressing place.