Hot Springs Hotels in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan

Katsuura is a very peaceful, quiet seaside town. The hotel's location is a bit awkward; it's about a ten-minute walk from Nachi-Katsuura Station. Taking a taxi doesn't feel worth it, and buses seem infrequent. Walking with luggage is a bit strenuous. The streets were so quiet that all we could hear was the sound of our suitcases being dragged, adding a touch of 'noise' to this small town, announcing to the residents: guests have arrived. The hotel is located at one end of the town, a five-minute walk from the marine torii gate. The hotel rooms are very spacious, featuring tatami mats, and you need to make your own bed. The room faces the sea with no one opposite. Opening the curtains and lying on the tatami is very relaxing. The hotel's hot spring isn't large, with both indoor and open-air baths, and it wasn't overly crowded. Overall, the service was good. Both breakfast and dinner felt quite ordinary. The restaurant across from the hotel (pictured in image three) was excellent; the owners are young, enthusiastic, and speak a little Chinese. There are also several other good restaurants in town.

The hotel has a small house across from the fish market for guest registration, where you wait for a small boat to take you to the island. I'm not sure why no one informed us about this after booking on Trip.com. No emails, no texts, no in-app messages. After arriving in Kii Katsuura, we had to use Google Maps to figure out how to get to the island ourselves. We were directed to a very secluded pier, the closest one to the island, but the hotel's boat didn't even stop there. We had to call the front desk, and they directed us back to the fish market to find the registration office. I'm very sure that, even on the day of my check-in, there was no information on Trip.com about how to get to the island. The hotel itself is incredibly thoughtful. There's a hiking trail that takes about 15 minutes to reach a mountain observatory and a foot bath, for which towels are even provided. Both the male and female indoor and outdoor baths are excellent. We also tried the private bath at the cape, which was also great; all the baths are genuinely very close to the sea. The women's bath on the second floor even has a bath where you can lie down, and the outdoor rotemburo in the women's bath features a cave landscape, which is very unique. Dinner is a sukiyaki that you cook yourself, and the meat is good. Breakfast includes three small platters and a buffet, which is also very generous. At different times, there's free-flowing beer, plum wine, sake, and ice cream. The only minor drawback is that there are no vending machines in the hotel; if you want juice, you have to buy it from the first-floor shop before it closes. Overall, I highly recommend staying here because the hotel is simply outstandingly thoughtful.

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.

We arrived in Kii-Katsuura by express train from Shirahama in just under 2 hours in the morning. After getting off the train, we stored our luggage at the station (¥800/locker) and immediately took a sightseeing bus to Nachisan (¥630). We visited the grand waterfall, had a bowl of udon noodles by the street (¥600), and then hiked up to visit the Three-Storied Pagoda. After descending, we took the bus back to the JR station. Dragging our luggage, we walked for 7 minutes to catch the hotel's boat to the island (boats depart every 20 minutes after 3:10 PM). Check-in at the hotel was done via machine. We stayed at the Sankan building. On the way, we walked past the cave onsen with our luggage and took the elevator straight up to the 32nd floor, where we had a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean. After all the hiking, we changed, grabbed our towels, and enjoyed the cave onsen♨️. Before our 6 PM dinner reservation, we rushed to the Noroshibashi Tunnel on the 33rd floor to catch the sunset. Dinner was a semi-buffet with a wide variety of delicious options😋. The next morning, we put on all our clothes at 5:30 AM to capture the sunrise. After breakfast and a short rest, we took the large escalator downstairs, stored our luggage (free of charge), and at 9:20 AM, we took the boat back to the pier. We checked out the fish market and then headed to the bus stop. A new day of travel had begun…

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!

I was very satisfied with this hotel. The front desk staff's English wasn't great, but communication was no problem. They were very attentive in explaining the onsen opening hours and even helped me book a two-day bus trip from the hotel to Kii-Katsuura JR station. The hotel lobby provides yukatas (light cotton robes) in different styles and sizes; outer garments and obi (sashes) are in your room. The moment I opened the door, it felt wonderful. This time I booked a traditional tatami room with a bathroom, facing the sea, on a high floor. The view was fantastic. Remarkably, the tatami room had no unpleasant odors. There are two onsen: one outdoor and one indoor (but there's also an outdoor onsen). Soaking in it once a day was very comfortable. During the Spring Festival, it wasn't crowded; tourists and locals were about equal. I booked a one-night, two-meal package. The front desk lets you choose your dining time. My first dinner was scheduled for 8 pm, but when I arrived, they didn't check, and there weren't many people dining. The food was just average, nothing particularly amazing.

Although the hotel is relatively old, it is still a pleasant surprise overall. The room is very good, the beach is just outside, the price/performance ratio is very high, and the overall travel accommodation experience is very good.

We absolutely cannot contain our elation when recalling our recent stay at this remarkable hotel. From the moment we stepped into the elevator adorned with personalized name cards, my husband and I were enveloped in the warm embrace of hospitality. The attention to detail and the genuine kindness of the staff made us feel like VIP guests. They also thoughtfully provided a bucket for us to indulge in the glowing enchantment of firecrackers and even tidied the mess up afterwards. But the best memory of our stay here was definitely the culinary experience given by the chef extraordinaire — Master Chef Matsuki. His creations were nothing short of a gastronomic revelation. Each dish was a testament to his unwavering dedication and profound respect for the ingredients. Oh, the flavors — titillating all our taste buds in every bite. And the generosity of Chef Matsuki in sharing his culinary wisdom, guiding us on how to savor each morsel, elevated the entire dining experience to sheer perfection. The language barrier was no obstacle to the remarkable team of staff members who graced us with their presence. Their command of the English language was commendable, and even those who were not entirely fluent went above and beyond to cater to our every whim and need. Their genuine desire to assist us was palpable, leaving us feeling truly valued and cared for. I am already making plans to return with my beloved family, as I know they too deserve to bask in the unparalleled warmth and luxury that this establishment exudes. This hotel has set the bar impossibly high, redefining the meaning of hospitality and creating memories that will be cherished for a lifetime. So if you seek a hotel experience that transcends mere accommodation and transforms into a symphony of opulence, impeccable service, and culinary artistry, then look no further. This is the epitome of hospitality, a sanctuary where dreams come true, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who craves an unforgettable journey of indulgence and delight.

Really loved it! The hot springs were so relaxing, and the breakfast spread was incredibly generous. The view from the window was lovely. On the second floor, there are lots of entertainment options, including massage chairs and a wide selection of manga to read. Just a heads-up: the hot spring pools switch between day and night, so make sure you don't go to the wrong one!