Homestays in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan

I visited once in the summer of 2019 while pregnant with my second child, and it was a wonderful experience. The place was beautiful, clean, with excellent service, and the food served was delicious. This year, with my younger child grown, we wanted to revisit and relive those memories, but it was quite disappointing. The room was untidy, and the cleanliness had significantly deteriorated. Sleeping on the tatami, I woke up at 4 AM due to intense itching on my left shoulder, neck, and side. I suspect it was fleas, perhaps from the old tatami mat or mattress, as I tend to sleep on my left side. I didn't get any good sleep that night. The food quality had drastically declined; it felt like eating in a large cafeteria. The restaurant staff's attitude was also quite perfunctory; not outright rude, but it left a very poor impression. The humble service, smiles, and respect we experienced during our first visit were completely absent. We stayed for two days, and Saturday, our second day, was even worse. The Japanese dinner was supposed to be served course by course, meaning one dish at a time, with the next served only after the current one was finished, a plate per person, paced according to the guest's eating speed. Instead, a small dish was served to everyone, which we quickly finished. We tried to ask for the next course, but it didn't come. We were left waiting awkwardly for a long time, and then only a tiny bit more food would arrive, which we'd devour instantly. Then we'd be back to staring with pleading eyes, practically begging for more food. Finally, we realized that it wasn't about our table finishing a dish before the next was served. It was a mass cafeteria system, with over a dozen tables and families. Dinner started promptly at 5:30 PM, and even if we ate quickly, we had to wait for all the other tables to finish their first dish. Then, a cart would be brought out, and all tables would be served the second dish simultaneously. We were all separate parties, but families with kids who ate faster still had to wait for groups that were drinking to finish their first course before our second dish arrived. This is absolutely not Japanese dining service; it's a completely militarized cafeteria system. You have to wait for all fifteen-plus tables to finish their first course before the second one is served. Traditional Japanese meals are usually served individually, often in small portions. Here, if you eat quickly, you'll be left with nothing, just sitting there watching others drink and chat. Their 'Japanese' style amounts to serving you a single bite, and once you're done, you just stare at everyone else, because you won't get a second portion until they decide it's time. Having degenerated to this point, I will never eat their food again. It was sheer torment. The hotel's direct access to the beach right downstairs is a definite geographical advantage. We might consider staying here again if the kids specifically want to play in the sand, but if they're not keen on the beach, I will definitely not return. What a pity! I wanted to find a photo to post, but frankly, there was nothing worth sharing. Perhaps I should just post a photo of the broken TV, which they claimed had a loose connection and needed the cabinet dismantled for repair.

Very good. The service of the store is very good. The front desk can speak Chinese. The people are super gentle. The sea view is worth it. It is very beautiful. It is very comfortable to soak in a hot spring after a day of shopping. Recommended! (The room is a bit big and may be a bit cold. Then my friend and I are not used to the Japanese breakfast. But it is still very convenient and comfortable to eat in the morning. It depends on your opinion.

Close to Bus stop, Lawson and many restaurant nearby. Staff are very nice and helpful. Room is fairly clean but it smells like its not yet been used for a while, old and not eough air flow. Even the air freshener machine cant help. Also, there is no lift to annex building, be aware if you carry large suitcase.

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.

Hotel is generally clean and tidy as usual in Japan. Free parking which was excellent compare to costly parking in bigger cities. We loved the private onsen, our room was massive!

Loved the vibe of this place. It felt very traditional and was a super unique experience. The included dinner and breakfast were alright, not quite my speed but I enjoyed it for the most part. The morning ceremony at 6:45am was cool, and we were given a quick tour and history lesson after. The room was warm and clean, even after it snowed quite a bit overnight. The bath was great too. I’d definitely stay here again.

It is very convenient to stay overnight on foot. Although it is a youth hostel, it is very quiet. The facilities of the homestay are very complete, and the public area of ​​the rest area is very comfortable. It would be better if lunch boxes were provided. If the weather is bad, I definitely don’t want to go out for meals.

An old hot spring hotel located at the innermost of Tangfeng Hot Spring Street. You need to climb a small slope. Those with suitcases need to pay attention. You should be able to ask the hotel to pick you up. The hotel room is spacious and the facilities are a bit old, but the hygiene is good, the service staff is lovely, the dinner is also a standard Japanese set meal, the large bathroom has open-air and indoor, the water temperature is hot enough, you can recover your physical strength very well, and there is a car to take you to the bus station of Tangfeng Street in the morning.

Since mu friend and I did a hiking trip, we walked to this accommodation. I think it would be better to drive or taking bus to there instead of walking. I really appreciate the outdoor onsen. The hotel is very close to the bus stop that taking us to our next hiking point, just a few minutes walk. There are some attractions nearby, like the big figure hanging on the bridge. Unfortunately we didn’t have time to visit them. If you’re staying here, you should arrive earlier and take a look at the surroundings. The front desk staff can speak Mandarin. So if you are a Chinese, you will find it easier to communicate. The hotel is very clean, because you need to change shoes everywhere. 

This hotel is really old and not very cost-effective. In addition, it was difficult to connect to the hotel's wifi, and it took a long time to set it up with their staff. The location is relatively remote, so it would be better if you drive by yourself. In addition, children without extra beds will be charged separately. If I hadn't booked at last minute and had no choice, I would really want to change hotels.