Around Tenjinzaki × Highly rated for customer service and hospitality at Hotel·Ryokan

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. There was only one reason I came to Shirahama: To stay at Kuroshio Sou. When people think of Shirahama, many picture the sea and resorts. But what I found here was Wakayama itself. What moved me most at this Accommodation was not only how outstanding the food was. It was Head Chef Etani’s exceptional skill, and his deep respect for the producers who support every single dish. Fishermen. Farmers. Brewers. Roasters. And the artisans who continue to protect Japan’s fermentation culture. The moment I saw the map of producers introduced alongside the meal, I understood what this Accommodation truly values. Through the cuisine, you encounter not only ingredients, but also the people behind them and Wakayama’s climate and character. I was especially impressed by how delicious the soy sauce and Kinzanji miso were at dinner. When I asked about them, I learned they were from Horigawaya Nomura—a producer with over 350 years of history that still preserves traditional craftsmanship using firewood-heated iron kettles—making both their soy sauce and Kinzanji miso in that way today as well. I had originally planned to visit a different soy sauce brewery, but heavy rain made it impossible. Sometimes, the places you cannot reach end up guiding you to the story you were truly meant to find. For me, Kuroshio Sou was exactly that kind of place. The wonderful Onsen gently healed not only my body, but my mind as well. The quiet comfort throughout the building, Chef Etani’s cuisine, and the hospitality of all staff— together they quietly express this Accommodation’s philosophy in everything it does。 As a former chef from Tasmania, there is something I felt deeply: True hospitality is not just serving delicious food; it is helping guests connect with the people and culture that sustain a place。 I now have one more reason to return to Wakayama。 Thank you again from my heart.

The meals are such high quality you’d never guess they’re buffet-style. The menu changes with the seasons, so it never gets boring, and everything is consistently delicious every time we visit! The Rooms may seem similar at first, but the layouts and interiors vary, which makes it fun and interesting. The Surprise Plan is the best—guaranteed to become an unforgettable memory! It’s wonderful to receive, and just as fun to plan for someone else. A space where everyone is sure to feel happy! We’re truly grateful to all the staff who create this extraordinary and wonderful atmosphere.

It was a very satisfying trip to Shirahama. This Accommodation is in an excellent location, close to Shirarahama Beach. The Room was thoroughly cleaned, and we were very satisfied. We love Onsen, so we were happy with the large public bath here. The food was delicious as well. All the staff were attentive and helpful—thank you very much. It was an Accommodation that exceeded its price. We were also blessed with good weather and could relax at our leisure. It’s an Accommodation that makes us want to come again.

Last summer, we stayed here for the first time and our whole family was thrilled to enjoy such an extraordinary getaway, so this year we extended our stay to three nights. Since we thought we might not make it by check-in time, we let them know we would be late, and they responded very pleasantly. Check-in was until 6:00 PM, but when we arrived around 7:00 PM and went to reception, the staff greeted us with a wonderful smile and said “Welcome back,” providing truly perfect service. Right after checking in, as we drove out for dinner, we noticed that the decorative lights that had been on earlier were now off—and realized they had turned them on as a landmark to help us find reception. We felt sorry for the trouble and were impressed by how thoughtful the staff were. Because we have a dog, we chose a type with a large dog run and BBQ facilities, and it exceeded our expectations. The Room was spacious and spotless, amenities were well prepared, and it was so perfect it was hard to find anything to complain about. We’d love to keep using it like a vacation home in the future, and I think it’s also ideal for multiple families or three-generation trips.

From the Room balcony, we had a panoramic view of Shirahama Beach, the ocean, and the town—an unbeatable location. The Room was spacious and truly relaxing. The Hotel itself was lovely, and having a nice smoking room was a real plus for smokers. In the evening, we enjoyed delicious cocktails at the bar counter, and with live piano music it made for a wonderfully comfortable time. The view from the large public bath was also amazing—you can look down over the sea, and the ocean breeze felt incredibly refreshing. Dinner was an Italian course meal and everything was delicious. The breakfast buffet was great too, with both Japanese and Western options. The Hotel also has a pool and a gym, and it’s close to Shirahama World Safari and golf courses—perfect for families with children as well as golf lovers. It was such a wonderful Hotel that we’ll definitely want to visit again.

I stayed here last July with my wife, and in October with my mother and aunt. This was our third stay, at the request of my mother and aunt who wanted to visit again. As with the previous two stays, we had a wonderful time from check-in to check-out. Thank you again to all the staff.

Dinner this time was kept simple, but the quality was excellent, and both the taste and portion were completely satisfying. If I may make one request, the udon and ramen noodles at the buffet tend to get soggy, so I hope you can find a way to improve that—it's a shame because the broth is so delicious. This time as well, the in-Room bath uses Onsen water, so I thoroughly enjoyed soaking in its soothing warmth. How luxurious it is to have Onsen water come out just by turning the tap! I also used the large public bath this time and fully enjoyed the Onsen. Above all, everyone on the Hotel staff provided warm hospitality that made me feel welcome to relax as much as I wanted, so I was able to unwind completely. I would like to stay again. Thank you very much.

As others have mentioned, the second-floor ocean-view Room offers a view of the sea through power lines, with part of a building that looks somewhat abandoned in the foreground. The windows were not cleaned well, so it wasn’t a view that impressed us. The Room had the kind of odor often found in pet-friendly Accommodation, and we noticed smells around the sofa, bed, and curtains as well. The shared areas were very clean and had no odor, so they were comfortable to use. That was great. The only thing that concerned me in the shared areas was that the foot-washing faucet at the entrance only dispensed cold water... Maybe I wasn’t using it correctly. Personally, I appreciated being able to try out TAVO carts and beds—an unexpected service. Since we didn’t bring our own cart, we were able to rent one and visit places where a rental is required. However, since we received a size 6 or 7 cart, I did wonder whether it would be suitable for smaller dogs. The bakery next door also tasted great, and overall it was a Hotel I’d like to use again if I have the chance.

This was our third stay, and the free-flowing Onsen with no added water is outstanding. One of the highlights is being able to relax together as a couple in the private bath. Breakfast was delicious both to look at and to eat, and we were completely full. The parking lot is spacious, the location is great, and we love the views from the Room—Shirarahama Beach, sunsets, and more. We’d like to visit again when we can find the time.

This was my second stay this year because I particularly enjoyed the food last time. Originally a bank's retreat, the compact front desk and building layout reflect its history. There is no greeting upon arrival, luggage assistance, or farewell service (you carry your luggage to the third-floor front desk yourself and leave on your own). However, I appreciate the stunning ocean view from the hilltop location and the cozy atmosphere with only 10 rooms. The Onsen features a 78-degree natural hot spring source, with a slightly small but pleasant open-air bath and high-quality massage chairs. This time, I stayed in a Western-style room near the elevator that was added later; it was spacious, clean, and had comfortable beds. The only downside was that the sink and toilet were adjacent without separation—though it did provide an open feel upon reflection. Dinner could only be enjoyed at the restaurant (unlike last time when in-room dining allowed for more relaxation), which was disappointing as wearing loungewear is not permitted—I would have preferred to dine in a relaxed atmosphere in loungewear. Starting February next year, dinner times will shift to two seatings; however, I hope they maintain flexibility like now where you can choose every 30 minutes. The food met expectations—delicious despite not using particularly expensive ingredients—with intricate sauces and beautiful presentation that truly felt like fine cuisine. Breakfast also offered plenty of variety and quality. Before dinner at the lounge, I ordered Royal Milk Tea which was so delicious that I ordered it again in the morning while enjoying an elegant atmosphere with ocean views through large windows. A staff member kindly offered to take my photo during this time while explaining distant scenery details—a friendly gesture that elevated my impression of this accommodation’s overall service level. Its convenient distance from Osaka makes me want to visit again!

The view from the open-air bath is amazing. I was able to relax in the free-flowing Onsen. The meals were very delicious and satisfying. Since each dish is served individually, I could enjoy my meal at a leisurely pace. I was curious about something that looked like a red bridge in the distance from the dining area, but it seems to be part of an airport facility. The Room is spacious and comes with a massage chair and an open-air pot bath, which also made me very satisfied. There are many Reviews saying the building is old, but does that cause any inconvenience? It didn’t bother me at all. The staff were very kind and soothing. Please let me stay again.

We stayed on the day of the September fireworks. As always, the hot springs were wonderful, and the room was clean. You can freely change your yukata, and there are even plastic bags in the large public bath to store what you’ve taken off. These may seem like small details, but they create a sense of comfort and luxury. The service at the dining venue was also excellent. When we arrived, all dinner slots before the fireworks were already full, so our meal overlapped with the fireworks and we were saying how disappointing it was that we might not be able to go see them this time. Before the fireworks started, however, a staff member kindly asked us: “For guests who would like to go watch the fireworks, we can pause your meal for about 30–40 minutes while you’re away. At which course should we stop serving for now?” Thanks to this thoughtful arrangement, more than half of us dining in that same time slot—including us—were able to go down to the beach and watch the fireworks. This is exactly the kind of hospitality you never forget. Thank you very much.

Thank you for taking such great care of us on our dog’s first trip. Everyone on the staff was truly dog-first—playing with our dog and keeping them company—and we really appreciate it. Since our dog is large, you even upgraded us to a more spacious Room, and we’re so grateful for all your kindness. This is an Accommodation we’d love to visit again when traveling to Wakayama. The bath was also wonderful, with slightly silky natural hot spring water, and my skin felt so smooth the next day! Both our dog and we were completely satisfied. Thank you very much.

We stayed with our children and grandchildren to celebrate my husband’s 60th birthday. Not only was the Facility beautiful and wonderful, but all of the staff were kind and greeted us with warm smiles, which made our stay very pleasant. Thank you very much. However, our grandchildren got extremely excited and were quite noisy during meals, so if we made other guests uncomfortable, we sincerely apologize… To everyone who stayed on the same day—sorry! Our grandchildren seemed to have a great time as well, and our whole family was very satisfied with our stay… We’re sorry—and thank you again. It was a Hotel we’d want to visit again and again.

As soon as we arrived at the hotel and tried to take a photo at the entrance, a staff member kindly took a great picture for us with the scenery in the background. While waiting at the front desk, there were Halloween decorations and costumes, and they happily let us dress up and took photos with us. However, there weren’t many options for the welcome drinks, so I wish there had been a few more choices. The room was clean as well. Dinner offered a wide variety of local and seasonal dishes, all delicious, and we were able to enjoy plenty. In particular, the fresh tuna and sea bream sashimi were very fresh; the sushi rice was tasty; the toppings were large; and even the chawanmushi was piping hot and authentic. There were also lots of desserts and they were delicious, but I was too full to try many of them—next time I’d like to come back hungry enough to enjoy everything without regrets. Above all, when the food is this good, it makes you want to visit again.

We stayed in Building D, which is pet-friendly. Everything was spotless and very comfortable. There’s honestly nothing to criticize, so here are a few tips to help you enjoy your stay even more. Jacuzzi / Open-air bath / Pool: 　Bringing a swimsuit is recommended. Stink bugs (currently a large outbreak): 　It’s helpful to bring sticky tape for removal. Bakery: 　There’s a great bakery nearby. Amenities: 　High-quality POLA amenities are provided, so you only need to bring the basics. To fully enjoy it: 　You’ll probably want to stay two nights. Appliances: 　Most appliances are available, but there doesn’t seem to be an air fryer (probably). Shirarahama Beach: 　It’s just under 2 km away—slightly far. Dogs aren’t allowed on Shirarahama Beach, which is disappointing, but the beauty of the beach is amazing.

The view from the window was breathtaking, and we were able to enjoy a truly luxurious time. The sunset in particular was stunning—better than we had imagined. We would definitely like to stay again.

My elderly mother had a wonderful stay—thank you! During our Multiple Night Stay, you kindly lent us a locker and helped us switch to a different Room, which was very helpful. The lobby was also quiet and pleasant.

Check-in and Dining As we were staying with a large group, they handled our additional requests smoothly. They thoughtfully arranged the seating for dinner, and it seemed the same consideration was carried over to breakfast. We were able to enjoy our meals in a relaxed atmosphere. Everything was delicious, and we were fully satisfied both visually and in terms of portion size. The Onsen was also wonderful. We received smart, unobtrusive, and attentive service throughout. It was a truly great stay. Thank you very much.

The building is simply stunning, and the paintings on display were wonderful as well. In addition, the dining experience was excellent—the staff’s warm hospitality really came through, and we enjoyed a wide variety of dishes. The large public bath was also luxurious and fun. I’d love to visit again, and if you come to Wakayama, this is a place you should visit at least once.