Hotels With Spa in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan

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.

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 ☺️

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.

On my first day in Japan, I checked into this hotel, which is incredibly conveniently located right around the corner from the JR station exit. It was absolutely no hassle with luggage. The hotel room was clean and featured large floor-to-ceiling windows. Unfortunately, I arrived too late to experience the rooftop spa. Breakfast comes highly recommended, offering panoramic sea views through its three walls of floor-to-ceiling windows, and the food selection was abundant. From the JR platform, it's easy to transfer to services heading to attractions like the Cat Train line and Shirahama. The commercial complex on the hotel's second floor houses a food street and a local artisan market. Directly from the hotel's second floor, you can access the Wakayama City Library. If you have time, I highly recommend visiting it with children; it's spread over three floors, and my child was thrilled to discover original Detective Conan manga there.

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.

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 view is stunning, but taking the bus to Oura Station means you have to drag your suitcases up a bit, or catch the 6:00 PM shuttle bus from Shirahama Station. It's worth checking the shuttle bus schedule beforehand; the last one seems to be around 5:00 PM. The bathroom facilities are a bit dated, but the other services are good. With fewer Chinese tourists, it's mostly Japanese families with children. The indoor pool is a bit small, mostly occupied by the children. The breakfast was okay and filling, a typical hotel buffet, but they do offer mentaiko and tuna. On the way back, the hotel booked a taxi to the airport, which took 10 minutes. It's a bit far from Shirarahama, Senjojiki, and Sandanbeki, so it's best to get a timetable and have change ready if you're taking the bus.

room and onsen is clear and comfortable lobby staff told me the starting dinner time is wrong but at last they special to remake the dinner food for us (5 persons) we're so happy about their staff service very nice and helpful we will choose this hotel again

We took the bus from Kieda Just a car to the opposite of the hotel Once in the hotel, the smell of wood is fragrant Although the hotel has been around for years But still keep it clean. The hotel focuses on his dinner buffet and breakfast buffet It takes a few days to eat all the food  Really super style, and everything tastes good There is also a buffet, there is actually a roast meat question  Super appreciated 

Very heart-warming 𥄫 service, station pick-up, you may not find it yourself. Next to the lighthouse. Packing dinner and breakfast, very good. Stayed must be unforgettable