Boyokaku Reviews

Food is delicious, price is good with breakfast and dinner, staff are nice, free parking, onsen is good

The hotel is not a fancy one, but the staff members (mostly elderly ladies but one or two of them have very good English) are all very nice. Its award-winning food service is definitely a must-try here, especially the dinner as it comes with sunset view. We were lucky to be arranged a window seat and was able to enjoy the beautiful sunset while eating the delicious kaiseki dinner. Breakfast is also very nice. And because it’s not your typical touristic destination, you are getting a very good value for money.

The weather was very nice and the sunset was beautiful. It was Golden Week and the price was 58,000 yen for two people. I was looking forward to the food, but they didn't even serve spiny lobster. For about 20,000 yen per person per night, I would be happy with the dinner. I made the reservation about a month in advance, and it was a room facing the mountain. When I made the reservation, I wasn't able to specify the type of food or the room. I had a vague idea of ​​the price, 58,000 yen for two people with two meals. The service and the hotel's attitude were good, so the dinner was very disappointing.

Very nice staff and great hotel. The pool is only open in the summer months. Dinner can be booked as an option. There is no beach in the village and few other restaurants or places to go out.

The sea view room in the hotel is very decent, and the dinner and breakfast are OK, but there is nothing nearby, and it is a relatively popular place in Amakusa. The most disappointing thing is that there is no open-air hot spring overlooking the sea...

First of all, I made a reservation on the site, but I made a mistake in the number of children. The yukata is also suitable for the age of the child, and I am very satisfied! I was able to spend a very comfortable time with everyone's smiles. We got to see the best sunset! In addition, Ise shrimp was added to the dish in a hurry, but it was very delicious. On the second day, I also went dolphin watching with my family. I was very tired because of the heavy traffic on the way back and forth, but I was able to spend a moment to forget that fatigue. thank you very much!

The hotel room was a little dated, but it was clean. Food was great! The bath is good and I want to go again.

My son and I visited my grandfather's hometown, Amakusa, and stayed at the Boyokaku in Shimoda Onsen for three days and two nights. Boyokaku is a hot spring inn located in Amakusa Shimoda Onsen, which spreads out near the mouth of the Shimotsufukae River on the west coast of Amakusa Shimoshima, and offers a panoramic view of the East China Sea. On the day of our stay, we left Kumamoto Airport in a rental car after lunch and arrived in about three and a half hours, with some breaks along the way. We made our reservation through a certain hotel reservation site and paid for the accommodation at the same time, so we were able to check in by simply filling out the guest list. You can park your car for free in the parking lot in front of the entrance during your stay. The room type we booked this time was a Japanese-style room. The main room, which has a Japanese atmosphere, is 12.5 tatami mats in size and is a relaxing space where you can relax. The guest room was well-cleaned and we had a comfortable stay. You can hear the sound of the waves from the veranda, and you can see the Amakusa Bay and the Nagasaki Peninsula in the distance. A small refrigerator, electric kettle, and safe were installed in the closet of the main room. A tea set (green tea and Amakusa Kouta shrimp rice crackers) was provided in the room. In addition, toothbrushes, razors, and combs were provided as bathroom amenities, as well as yukata (for adults and children), towels, bath towels, and Yumi Tabi. Free Wi-Fi is available in the rooms, but the connection is unstable and may suddenly be cut off, so it is not suitable for watching videos or downloading large files. Since I booked a plan with one night and two meals, breakfast and dinner were included. Meals were served at the restaurant HORIZONTE, with reservations at certain times. For dinner, we had a basic kaiseki meal that incorporated plenty of local Amakusa and Kumamoto ingredients such as Amakusa local fish sashimi, Amakusa Rosario pork, and Amakusa Daio, and for breakfast, we had a Japanese set meal with rice, miso soup, and a variety of side dishes, which were prepared daily and were very satisfying. The large public bath is on the first floor of the building and is available from 5:30 to 9:00 a.m. and from 11:00 a.m. to midnight. The spring quality is sodium bicarbonate chloride spring, which is said to be effective for chronic skin diseases, joint and muscle pain, chronic digestive diseases, and also has a skin-beautifying effect. I soaked in the soft, smooth water and warmed my body to the core. There are vending machines for drinks, cup noodles, and ice cream in the building. There are no convenience stores in the Shimoda Onsen area, and there are few restaurants and supermarkets, so I recommend booking an accommodation plan with meals included. My family and I stayed at Boyokaku several times in the 1990s. There have been some changes over the past 30 years, such as the construction of a new wing and renovation of the building, but the warm hospitality, high-quality food, and comfort remain the same as they were back then. When I made the reservation, I requested an ocean view room, which was readily accommodated, but unfortunately it was cloudy and I was unable to see the sunset.

I had high expectations for Ise lobster dishes, but the Ise lobster dishes that were served were very ordinary Ise lobster dishes, and I was disappointed. The fish sashimi was served on a separate plate, so only the spiny lobster sashimi was served on a large plate. The ice melts and it doesn't look good!

This is the only place in Shimoda Onsen that faces the sea. I chose this one because I thought I might be able to see the sunset. However, the sea-facing rooms are expensive, so I stayed on the mountain side, hoping to see it from the restaurant at dinner, but I was lucky to be upgraded to a sea-facing room when I checked in (maybe they're targeting repeat customers). However, there were a lot of clouds, so I couldn't see the beautiful sunset. The room was not very spacious and simple, but the edges of the tatami mats were colorful and stylish. The main entrance was on the back side of the road, but there was an entrance from Route 389 facing the sea, so when I entered from there, I found the parking lot at the back. There was a staff member who guided me to the parking lot and helped me with my luggage. I wanted to drink beer right away, but the vending machine was not working at the moment, so they delivered a bottle of beer. Dinner was full at 6 o'clock and it was 7 o'clock, but when I went to the hot spring after 6 o'clock, it was all to myself, so it was good. The washing area was also large and comfortable. At the beginning of dinner, if a large amount of food is laid out, it can make you lose your appetite, but there wasn't much, so it was good. As I get older, I can't eat much, so there was no fried food or tempura, and the portion was just right. The sea bream broth udon was also small, but delicious. When I travel, I drink local sake, but Amakusa has a strong connection with Portugal, so I tried the Portuguese white wine recommended by the young female proprietress. It was a slightly sparkling, dry wine with a sour taste, and it went well with the Japanese food. I felt that the shop had a somewhat limited selection of local products. I wonder if the coffee in the lobby is a good idea. It doesn't have to be that high-quality coffee, but I think it would be nice if there was a machine where you could drink it for free whenever you feel like it or in the morning. Most hotels are like that nowadays (and you can even get takeout). The breakfast was also good, with a small portion. The staff at breakfast were all like neighborhood aunties, but I liked them on the contrary. Big eaters may find both dinner and breakfast unsatisfying. I didn't use it this time, but I also thought it was nice that there was an outdoor pool (only from July to September).