Hotels With Parking in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan

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 ☺️

I was initially hesitant to book a hotel a bit far from JR Wakayama Station. However, I found the transportation to be surprisingly convenient. There's a bus stop right outside the hotel, and you can reach JR Station in under ten minutes. The hotel is located directly across from Wakayama Castle, and our room offered a view of the castle. We were also lucky enough to catch a distant fireworks display from our room!

Before my trip, I'd read reviews mentioning the place was a bit dated and some areas weren't very clean, which made me a little concerned. As it turned out, it was pretty much perfect. We stayed for three days, and the breakfast and dinner spreads each day were so generous and delicious, we ate till we were stuffed. The location was unbeatable – with the beach right out the back door. It was incredibly convenient, and swimming in the ocean every day was so refreshing. To be honest, I'm not usually one for hot springs, especially given how hot it was. We also caught a 2,500-shot fireworks display, which was truly spectacular. The only minor drawback is that Shirahama is quite a distance from both the airport and other major cities.

Despite the compact room, the bathroom has separate wet and dry areas, and the sleeping zone offers good privacy. The hotel features traditional hot spring baths and provides complimentary late-night ramen. Probiotic drinks are available in the mornings, and ice cream is offered all day long (I especially liked the chocolate-covered crispy and nutty flavors). Its location is excellent, being very close to the central metro station, with many restaurants nearby and a shopping mall (even featuring luxury brands like LV). Overall, a highly satisfying stay.

The room is very big and has a swimming pool. I love taking a bath in the outdoor hot springs and watching the sunset. However, there are no places to eat around except at the bar. You need to buy something at the convenience store in front of the station. Please note that the hotel has a shuttle bus to and from the station.

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.

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 location is close to the beach, making it convenient for self-driving tours. Although the hotel has been renovated, it feels a bit run-down, but the beautiful scenery is enough to complement it. The hotel buffet has a wide variety of dishes and is very satisfying.

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!