I stayed for 2 nights and experienced two different room types: an ocean-view tatami room on the 7th floor (pictured) and another ocean-view tatami room on the 1st floor (with a private hot spring bath).
**Pros:**
1. The location offers stunning ocean views. Just a short walk from the hotel (turn left, then left again), you'll find expansive ocean vistas; even if you haven't booked an ocean-view room, you can still enjoy the sea here and take evening strolls along the coast.
2. Complimentary hot and cold beverages are available, though with time restrictions.
3. There's a public hot spring bath (onsen) on the 2nd floor, complete with yukata (Japanese robes) and a comprehensive range of toiletries, including shampoo, conditioner, body wash, facial cleanser, makeup remover, toner, and lotion. A special touch is the selection of nearly 10 different brands of shampoos and conditioners you can choose from. For rooms with a private bath, Refa hairdryers are provided, and you can enjoy both indoor and outdoor bathing options. It's lovely to soak under the stars at night.
4. Complimentary ramen is served at 9 PM. During my two-day stay, it was 'black ramen' both nights.
5. The front desk staff primarily speak Japanese and English (no Chinese), but simple English communication was smooth. Overall service was excellent. Despite the remote surroundings, the hotel interior felt vibrant and welcoming. The dinner and breakfast staff were also very attentive and particularly friendly towards children.
6. The hotel is conveniently located less than a 10-minute walk from Kii-Katsuura JR Station, making it easy to visit the Whale Museum in Taiji and explore the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes.
**Cons:**
1. The walk from Kii-Katsuura JR Station to the hotel with luggage was quite challenging. The pedestrian path is narrow, with cars driving by very close, though thankfully there wasn't much traffic. The hotel also does not offer a shuttle service.
2. The room facilities are a bit dated and show their age, but they remain fully functional.
3. Since we stayed in tatami rooms, we had to lay out our futons ourselves each night.
4. Due to booking two different room types, on the second day we had to check out by 10 AM, store our luggage, and then re-check in at 3 PM. Luckily, we were out exploring for most of the day, so it wasn't a major inconvenience.
5. The rooms use traditional keys (not key cards), which means you have to remember to manually lock the door when leaving. This felt a little inconvenient.
**In summary,** this is a charming onsen hotel offering pleasant scenery and warm, attentive service. I would highly recommend it.
Pros:
•I don't see the point in just choosing a room here. Be sure to get a superior Japanese-style room with an open air bath or even a bungalow, and definitely one with a sea view. Then you're guaranteed a complete experience.
•The hotel welcomes guests barefoot or in socks on tatami mats, a very pleasant and authentic experience.
•VIEWS!! Gorgeous panoramic views of the ocean.
•This is a traditional ryokan, so tattoos are not allowed, BUT I was immediately given tape to cover up the tattoos on my arms, and everything was fine.
•Delicious food, lots of delicious food! The breakfasts are especially amazing.
•The hotel offers a lot of complimentary drinks, and the after-onsen area has free ice cream and cold water. They serve local ramen from 10-11 PM also complementary.
•All the onsen are very clean and cool. Especially the male and female one, built into a cliff right on the ocean shore, has a view. By the way, they provide special clothing, so if you're shy, don't worry.
•There were no stink bugs. It's important to understand that this is nature, and insects are normal.
Cons: •Despite the fact that many foreigners stay here, there's almost no English navigation and the staff speaks very little English.
•There are only two private onsen, and the ryokan is huge; it was easiest to get the key to the private ones in the evening.
•The main dishes at the kaiseki dinner were surprisingly disappointing (dry rice and tasteless noodles), although the other dishes were very good.
•The onsen are closed from 10:00 to 15:00, so there's nothing to do during these 5 hours, especially if the weather is bad 😭
•The ryokan doesn't offer food other than breakfast and dinner and don’t have a restaurant, so if it rains or a typhoon, you'll have to go outside the hotel to find food.
Conclusion: If this is your first ryokan, it's probably better to choose a more tourist-oriented one.
If you want to fully immerse yourself in onsen culture and be captivated by the ocean, this is a great choice ☺️
Staying alone on a weekday during the off-season, I was given a room on the lowest floor, the 3rd floor (later found out this entire floor was occupied by Chinese guests). There's a platform outside the window that people can walk onto once the window is opened, essentially making it a public balcony, which is a huge safety concern. The overhanging eaves outside the window also felt quite oppressive. However, considering the price of over 700 including two meals, I decided to put up with it.
Other aspects, though, were quite good. The dining was excellent; the dinner kaiseki and breakfast buffet were among the best I've had at any onsen hotel. The lobby bar also offered complimentary drinks at night. The staff's attitude was superb.
A clean and relatively modern hotel sitting on top of a hill with a spectacular view of the harbour. There is an indoor/outdoor onsen on the ground floor and free alcohol and snacks from 3 to 5 pm every afternoon! Great value for money, and a great place to relax and ease back into civilisation if you’ve just come out of the mountains after doing the Kumano Kodo.
We've stayed at Dormy Inn in many locations across Japan, and our entire family loves it. Although the rooms at Dormy Inn are typically quite small, they offer incredible value for money. Being able to soak in a hot spring every day after returning exhausted is a particularly worthwhile experience. The hotel provides complimentary ice cream, Yakult, and massage chairs. Plus, at 9:30 PM, they even offer free soy sauce ramen. These added perks are definitely a major draw.
Personally, I find Dormy Inn's breakfasts to be excellent across Japan, with the exception of Tokyo, which is just average. They always incorporate local specialties, with dishes like beef bowls, natto, and onsen eggs being prime examples. The Dormy Inn in Wakayama even offered cantaloupe, which was a delightful surprise, especially considering a single wedge of Yubari melon in Hokkaido can cost 25 RMB.
Location: About a 15-minute taxi ride from Shirahama Station, and there's also a bus that stops right at the entrance. The overall design is quite modern, and the ocean view far exceeded my expectations. The Pacific Ocean views from both the common areas and the rooms are very chill and expansive.
Facilities: The room size is significantly larger than hotels of similar price in big cities, making for a very comfortable stay.
Dining: A convenience store is just a 5-minute walk away. Right next door is a popular ramen shop; although it's mostly frequented by Chinese tourists, the taste is genuinely good and perfect for dinner. In the morning, I bought bread and coffee from the lobby and took it to the terrace to enjoy while soaking my feet and gazing at the sea – utterly delightful.
This is a fantastic ocean-view hotel for a vacation, and I would definitely come back given the chance!
Choosing a hotel in Shirahama during the peak summer season involves many considerations. We eventually booked this Marriott. Previous reviews mentioned the hotel's steep hill, and having experienced it firsthand, I'd say it's manageable in the scorching summer if you're not lugging bags. However, if you are, it's definitely best to take a taxi directly from Shirahama Station. We actually saw a bus about to depart as we left the station and hopped on, but the walk from the bus stop up that steep, uneven road left both adults and kids exhausted.
Before the 3 PM check-in, the lobby offers complimentary chilled plum water. We booked a sea view room, which was perfectly adequate for three adults and one child. The onsen (hot spring bath) on the 11th floor alternates between male and female use daily, and the views from there were quite nice.
Breakfast was predominantly Western-style, so if you prefer Japanese options, I wouldn't recommend staying here. We noticed quite a few Western guests, and during peak times, the restaurant felt quite noisy and chaotic.
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.
The Nishikikan (Sunrise Hotel) offers classic Japanese-style tatami rooms with a three-part bathroom and a balcony. The views are first-class! The room is a bit small, not as spacious as tatami rooms in other Japanese hotels; I'd say it comfortably sleeps four people at most. The hygiene is acceptable, but the hotel feels a bit old. The complex is huge, with the Main Building, Nishikikan, and Sanjo (Mountain) buildings all connected by corridors. It's a really big place, so expect to walk quite a bit. However, the hotel is very thoughtful and provides wheelchairs for elderly guests. To get off the island, you have two options: a shuttle bus or a turtle boat, both running almost all day, roughly every 15-30 minutes depending on the time. The Bōkikaku (Forgetting to Return Cave) is absolutely stunning and rotates between male and female access, so it's best to stay at least two nights. Otherwise, missing the large triangle view of Bōkikaku would be a real shame. The sulfuric saline hot spring is excellent for the skin, and it's undiluted, live water. My only minor complaints are: 1) The hot spring shower area sometimes has small stones on the floor that can prick your feet; they should really improve the cleaning. 2) The hotel's food. Both the breakfast and dinner are buffets. While there's a wide variety, I didn't feel there was much worth eating. The unlimited tuna wasn't great quality, so you might consider not booking meals. The small set meals near the seafood market offer much better quality tuna. Alternatively, you can buy a one-day pass on your way to Nachi during the day and hop off to eat whenever you like. P.S. Make sure to take the elevator up to the Sanjo building to visit the Noroshiyama Park; on a clear day, the sunrise over the Pacific Ocean must be incredibly breathtaking.
This hotel is super conveniently located right next to Kintetsu Department Store, just to the right of Wakayama Station. There's even a direct passage to the MIO shopping mall, perfect for some retail therapy. No need to book a taxi either, you can just walk a minute to the station square and grab one there.
Cleanliness: The hotel might be a bit older, as the room felt a little stuffy, and it seemed like the window couldn't be opened. The showerhead also had a lot of limescale.
Ambiance: For Japan, the room was quite spacious, likely big enough for two people to fully open their suitcases.
Facilities: Breakfast was incredibly rich and varied, with a great view too. There's also an observation deck on the top floor that lights up at night, which adds a nice touch of charm.
Service: They were very accommodating and helpful! I borrowed a power adapter, which was a huge help!
Amazing
1567 reviews
9.4/10
Price from
£34
per night
Check Availability
See All Hotels With Wifi in Wakayama Prefecture
Travelers Reviews of Wakayama Prefecture Hotels
See all
8.9/10
Very Good
SSidifennierLocation: About a 15-minute taxi ride from Shirahama Station, and there's also a bus that stops right at the entrance. The overall design is quite modern, and the ocean view far exceeded my expectations. The Pacific Ocean views from both the common areas and the rooms are very chill and expansive.
Facilities: The room size is significantly larger than hotels of similar price in big cities, making for a very comfortable stay.
Dining: A convenience store is just a 5-minute walk away. Right next door is a popular ramen shop; although it's mostly frequented by Chinese tourists, the taste is genuinely good and perfect for dinner. In the morning, I bought bread and coffee from the lobby and took it to the terrace to enjoy while soaking my feet and gazing at the sea – utterly delightful.
This is a fantastic ocean-view hotel for a vacation, and I would definitely come back given the chance!
MM242225****I was a bit nervous when I booked this hotel, as there weren't many reviews.
But the overall experience exceeded my expectations.
The hotel facilities are very new, and it's easy to walk from the station and follow the directions.
Unlike other hot spring hotels, this one doesn't offer a stay-and-meals package, but a buffet. But the buffet was incredibly generous! The freshly baked apple pie was a particular highlight.
And the hot springs were incredibly relaxing!
Highly recommended.
PPinkozxcIt wasn't the most pleasant experience considering that the males n females had to share toilets and that some other rooms had private toilets n bath instead. And also the fact that the walls are super thin hence whomever is connected to your room if their loud or they don't like your voice volume than you might get kicked to the curb. It's a very frustrating experience for sure since it tests one's patience n ability to let go. It's training for the customers n monks alike. I met a Japanese friend here whom shared with me how rude the monks and the staff were to one another n I think that shows the quality of this place however we were pretty lucky as there was a male who spoke mandarin n a male who spoke English both quite well in this place n though the mandarin speaker was quite condescending towards the other monks, the English speaker was really nice n patient overall. He helped me out a lot since we couldn't communicate with the others n seemed to be the only customers that spoke English whom booked this place by ourselves, the others around seemed to have a guide n were usually in groups.
It's a unique experience n I recommend just staying for one night or going to the other temples. I went for the ajikan meditation at eko in temple n the service n cleanliness was on another level for sure. The food here was also really simple. Also a must see are the tomb area n the walk to kobold daishi temple. As a sensitive person, I felt the overwhelming love n presence and the cleanse of my heart of this amazing soul over there. To me, that was worth it. Remember to clean yourself with the water out front before going in.... and of course to the amazing fateful friendship that occurred for us with the jap-********* couple we met. It was the next fav of mine after the time spent in nara visitor center. That was truly magickal n how I wished we stayed longer there. But all was good cause the way I planned this trip made it so that we would have this fateful encounter to the end of our trip.
DDenOkhrimenPros:
•I don't see the point in just choosing a room here. Be sure to get a superior Japanese-style room with an open air bath or even a bungalow, and definitely one with a sea view. Then you're guaranteed a complete experience.
•The hotel welcomes guests barefoot or in socks on tatami mats, a very pleasant and authentic experience.
•VIEWS!! Gorgeous panoramic views of the ocean.
•This is a traditional ryokan, so tattoos are not allowed, BUT I was immediately given tape to cover up the tattoos on my arms, and everything was fine.
•Delicious food, lots of delicious food! The breakfasts are especially amazing.
•The hotel offers a lot of complimentary drinks, and the after-onsen area has free ice cream and cold water. They serve local ramen from 10-11 PM also complementary.
•All the onsen are very clean and cool. Especially the male and female one, built into a cliff right on the ocean shore, has a view. By the way, they provide special clothing, so if you're shy, don't worry.
•There were no stink bugs. It's important to understand that this is nature, and insects are normal.
Cons: •Despite the fact that many foreigners stay here, there's almost no English navigation and the staff speaks very little English.
•There are only two private onsen, and the ryokan is huge; it was easiest to get the key to the private ones in the evening.
•The main dishes at the kaiseki dinner were surprisingly disappointing (dry rice and tasteless noodles), although the other dishes were very good.
•The onsen are closed from 10:00 to 15:00, so there's nothing to do during these 5 hours, especially if the weather is bad 😭
•The ryokan doesn't offer food other than breakfast and dinner and don’t have a restaurant, so if it rains or a typhoon, you'll have to go outside the hotel to find food.
Conclusion: If this is your first ryokan, it's probably better to choose a more tourist-oriented one.
If you want to fully immerse yourself in onsen culture and be captivated by the ocean, this is a great choice ☺️
AapplesspI stayed for 2 nights and experienced two different room types: an ocean-view tatami room on the 7th floor (pictured) and another ocean-view tatami room on the 1st floor (with a private hot spring bath).
**Pros:**
1. The location offers stunning ocean views. Just a short walk from the hotel (turn left, then left again), you'll find expansive ocean vistas; even if you haven't booked an ocean-view room, you can still enjoy the sea here and take evening strolls along the coast.
2. Complimentary hot and cold beverages are available, though with time restrictions.
3. There's a public hot spring bath (onsen) on the 2nd floor, complete with yukata (Japanese robes) and a comprehensive range of toiletries, including shampoo, conditioner, body wash, facial cleanser, makeup remover, toner, and lotion. A special touch is the selection of nearly 10 different brands of shampoos and conditioners you can choose from. For rooms with a private bath, Refa hairdryers are provided, and you can enjoy both indoor and outdoor bathing options. It's lovely to soak under the stars at night.
4. Complimentary ramen is served at 9 PM. During my two-day stay, it was 'black ramen' both nights.
5. The front desk staff primarily speak Japanese and English (no Chinese), but simple English communication was smooth. Overall service was excellent. Despite the remote surroundings, the hotel interior felt vibrant and welcoming. The dinner and breakfast staff were also very attentive and particularly friendly towards children.
6. The hotel is conveniently located less than a 10-minute walk from Kii-Katsuura JR Station, making it easy to visit the Whale Museum in Taiji and explore the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes.
**Cons:**
1. The walk from Kii-Katsuura JR Station to the hotel with luggage was quite challenging. The pedestrian path is narrow, with cars driving by very close, though thankfully there wasn't much traffic. The hotel also does not offer a shuttle service.
2. The room facilities are a bit dated and show their age, but they remain fully functional.
3. Since we stayed in tatami rooms, we had to lay out our futons ourselves each night.
4. Due to booking two different room types, on the second day we had to check out by 10 AM, store our luggage, and then re-check in at 3 PM. Luckily, we were out exploring for most of the day, so it wasn't a major inconvenience.
5. The rooms use traditional keys (not key cards), which means you have to remember to manually lock the door when leaving. This felt a little inconvenient.
**In summary,** this is a charming onsen hotel offering pleasant scenery and warm, attentive service. I would highly recommend it.
GGuest UserWe stayed in this lovely family hotel for a night, we opted for room stay with dinner and breakfast. There's no shops or restaurant near by, so highly suggest to choose the stay with meals option, otherwise there's cooking facility within the room also, so I think it's possible to cook your own meal if necessary.
Location - the hotel is just round the corner of the famous Shirasaki Ocean Park, we even had a good view of the park from our room. There's parking space right in front of the hotel building, so it's very handy. We cycled to the Shirasaki Ocean Park then to the hotel, so it worked out perfect. There's a very steep slop going up to the hotel though, but it wasn't an issue for us as we pushed out bikes up.
Facilities - this is a family run hotel which believes was built a while ago, so can't compare it to all those new built hotels. The ”room” we stayed is more like a mini flat, it has a big kitchen, good sized bathroom with changing area, a separate toilet, a living room, bedroom and an extra ”sitting” area. The entire flat is in traditional Japanese style which we loved, and it has all facilities that made our stay comfortable. It also has coined washing machine and driers. We could even access to rooftop on the 4th floor to view the sunset. If you're looking for a quiet place to have quality time, then this is a good place to do so. There's also ”public bath” within the hotel, it's small but wasn't an issue for us. There's also shower and bath in the room also if you want some privacy.
Food - all food was cooked and prepared by the hotel owner, and she's a talented chef! Dinner was impressive, breakfast was standard.
The hotel owner is very friendly and lovely, it's definitely ”the place” to stay if you're visiting the area. We highly recommend it.
GGuest UserA great place if you’re open to cooking some food yourself. Yes, the dinner options are basically non-existent, but that really doesn’t matter if you’re open minded and willing to do something yourself. My partner and I walked for 8 hours and were exhausted when we arrived, but we still decided to get some food from the shop across the road (very nearby!!) and cook. It ended up being a lovely way to end the day which also surprised us. We sat atop our container-home and looked to the mountains as we ate our food.
The room has everything you need other than knives and maybe more options for plates, but it’s doable. Everything is compact but that’s part of the charm, and it’s really quite incredible how they organise the entire room.
The only issues we encountered were the lack of knives (only one chef’s knife, no normal knives for spreading butter etc), and the plates, but no other issues.
The lack of staff to talk to face to face can be a bit of a shock to people, but it’s all about your own attitude to trying it out, as this isn’t a hotel where you can get anything you want just by asking. You can ask, but it’s all done via a couple of iPads. Just be prepared and keep an open mind. If you do that, this might be one of the most comfortable and personal stays you’ll have.
GGuest UserNice view nice place, keep you relax staying in the hotel, free parking right beside the hotel, new experience of dinner with great cheese, and a set of breakfast with unlimited coffee give you refresh in morning. But beware of their dinner time at 5:30 and breakfast time in 7:30 that may different than expected.
GGuest UserA standard Marriott hotel with no restaurant. It is close to the Kushimoto attraction but far from the JR station. It is not convenient to buy things nearby. There are a few restaurants in the direction of the JR station. It is better to stay in a Japanese hot spring hotel when traveling to Japan. This one is not so good. I feel a little regretful after staying there. I should have chosen a hot spring hotel.
In addition, there is a fragrance in the hotel lobby, which I don't like. Picture 3 is the southernmost tip of Honshu in Kushimoto, which has nothing to do with the hotel.
GGeraldLim1Beautiful Ryokan! The room I stayed in had tatami floors and western beds. The doors slide instead of open outwards like they usually do. Toilets are relatively small, but the shower had great water pressure and temperature! However we did not shower much because.. We showered at the Onsen instead since we were there to spend time! The Onsen is tattoo-friendly as confirmed by the check in staff, and the water really had skin smoothing effects. Yukatas are available at lobby area for all guests, and level two has a restaurant with microwave and ice machine outside for your konbini meals. No view from the room, but that's fine cos the Onsen itself was worth a visit. Steep short hill up to the lobby, but if you drive then that's fine. Free to use outdoor BBQ area, but didn't have the chance to. Rooms were comfy, sleep was good with minimal disturbance. Side note: my underwear got stolen at the onsen and I never managed to find it back again but that's fine cos it was worth the Onsen experience. Stayed two nights here, no regrets, would totally do it again! Oh and Onsen area has got numbered lockers to store your belongings but not your undies!
To book a hotel on Trip.com, simply enter your destination, travel dates, and the number of guests on the page. Then, browse through the available hotels and select the one you want to book. Follow the prompts to enter your payment information and complete the booking.
How do I get hotel deals on Trip.com?
There are several ways to find affordable hotels on Trip.com. You can narrow down your search results by filtering hotels according to your preferred price range, or you can sort the results by price to view the cheapest options first.
Where can I find hotel deals on Trip.com?
Trip.com offers a wide variety of hotel deals and promotions that are available throughout the year. You can easily find these special offers on our deals page. What's more, if you are a member of our loyalty program, you can sign in to your account and discover exclusive discounted rates at hotel list pages.
How can I get lower prices for hotels?
Sometimes booking hotels midweek is cheaper, but it also depends on the season.
How many hotels are listed on Trip.com?
You’ll find over 1,500,000 hotels in 230+ countries and regions on Trip.com. Can’t decide which hotel to book? Browse the site for inspiration!
Can I cancel or change my hotel bookings on Trip.com?
It depends on the hotel policy and date of cancellation. Please check the policy section of the related hotel pages. To cancel or change your bookings, sign in to your Trip.com account, go to "My Bookings", and follow the instructions.
How do I contact Trip.com customer support?
You can contact Trip.com's 24/7 customer support by visiting the Help Center on Trip.com and submitting a request. You can also contact us by phone or service chat, depending on your location.