Around Tenjinzaki × Ranking Of Accommodation With Signature Seafood CuisineHighly-rated Hotel·Ryokan

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

I stayed here for the first time because they offered a Plan where the fish you catch at the fishing pond is served at dinner. I’ve stayed in Shirahama Onsen several times, but there aren’t many places that will cook your catch, so I really appreciated this Plan. Their coordination with the fishing pond was excellent—when we arrived, the application form was already prepared, and we could start fishing right away without bringing anything. They also packed our fish in a foam cooler with ice, and we checked in to the Hotel as-is. At dinner, two of the three fish we caught were prepared as sashimi and fried chicken-style, and we were able to take the remaining one home (thank you very much to the head chef). Our Room was No. 603 on the Royal Floor, with Shirarahama Beach right in front—an unbeatable location. The Room had a table with four chairs plus a sofa, and it was spacious and comfortable. My wife also said the washroom area was large, bright, and easy to use. For those going swimming in the sea, you can go straight from the Hotel out to Shirarahama Beach, so it seems ideal for families with children as well. The Onsen also had an open-air bath; it was spacious with great water quality, and we could relax while looking out over Shirarahama Beach (in the morning it switches to the first floor bathhouse, so there’s no view). Dinner was served in a private room and everything was delicious (if I had to say one thing, the sukiyaki beef wasn’t quite as good), and having our freshly caught fish on top of that made us more than satisfied. For breakfast we chose the buffet; there were plenty of options including Wakayama ramen, which was great. One example of their attentive service: when I almost forgot to pick up our fish to take home at checkout, someone at reception noticed and helped us bring it back safely. If I have another chance, I’d like to stay again with this fishing-pond Plan.

We stayed with our dog, along with my parents—six of us and three dogs. From the warm welcome upon arrival, the staff’s service was outstanding, and we were overwhelmed by the magnificent exterior and luxurious lobby. We travel every year, and this is the first time I’ve written a Review for a Hotel. It was truly a 100% satisfying Hotel, and our whole family was able to spend a fun time together with smiles. It’s such a wonderful place that one night isn’t enough—we’re already planning to celebrate my parents’ 80th birthday here next year at Hotel Kawakyu. All of the staff were incredibly kind and helpful.

As soon as we arrived at the Hotel and tried to take photos at the entrance, a staff member kindly took great pictures 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 for us. However, there weren’t many options for the welcome drinks, so I wish there had been a few more choices. The Room was also clean. Dinner offered a wide variety of local and seasonal dishes, all delicious, and we were able to enjoy plenty. The fresh tuna and sea bream sashimi were especially fresh; the sushi rice was tasty, the toppings were generous, and even the chawanmushi was served piping hot and felt truly authentic. There was also a great selection of desserts and they were delicious, but I was too full to try many of them—next time I’d like to make sure I don’t miss out. Above all, when the food is this good, it makes you want to come back again.

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.

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.

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.

All the staff were very kind. My family of three stayed in the Room “Engetsu,” and it was spacious enough. The bath and dining area were on the same floor, so access was excellent. The bath was fully stocked—not only shampoo, conditioner, and body wash, but also facial cleanser, makeup remover, toner, and lotion—and the water had a wonderfully silky feel. The meals were outstanding as well. We enjoyed a relaxing sea bream feast in our Room. They even included beer as a complimentary service, and we were truly impressed by their thoughtful attention to detail. We had breakfast in the dining area; there was a great variety of side dishes, and everything was delicious too. When I visit Shirahama again, I would definitely like to stay at Akariya 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.

The walk to the private bath is a bit long, but the scenery is wonderful, and we were able to enjoy an Onsen experience you can only have here. The meals were delicious, and since the course dishes were brought to us, we could relax and enjoy them without having to rush back and forth. The Room was spacious and very clean. The welcome drink was also great. We would love to visit again!

We stopped by on our way back from visiting a family grave at Mount Koya. This was our second stay, and the Onsen was especially relaxing—we truly enjoyed the ocean view right in front of us. The meals were delicious, and we were very happy with the complimentary drinks service in the lounge that started this year. If we have the chance, we would love to visit again for a third or fourth time.

It was a very comfortable and wonderful villa. The food was delicious and plentiful, and the bath was absolutely lovely. I will definitely stay here again.

We stayed here to enjoy swimming at Shirarahama Beach. Before check-in, they let us use the changing room and paid lockers, and we reached Shirarahama Beach in just a few minutes on foot. They also have an air pump for float rings, of course. After swimming, we could rinse off the sand with the outdoor warm-water shower and then head straight to the Onsen, which was great. Both the Room and the Facility were clean, and there were free drinks available throughout the property—we enjoyed them after bathing and while waiting for the elevator. The plum soda was delicious. The buffet had a wide variety of options and everything was tasty. It was also nice that freshly cooked steak and tempura were brought directly to our table. Since our buffet time slot was later, we were able to go see the sunset at Engetsuto Island before dinner. Even after checkout, they offered parking for 1,000 yen, and told us we could use the paid lockers—and even use the baths after 2:00 PM—so it was wonderful to be able to enjoy an Onsen after coming back from the beach before heading home. If you’re going swimming at the beach, this place is absolutely “Musashi”! It was that good. All of the staff were kind, and it made for a truly great trip. Thank you very much.

The service was courteous and attentive, including a cart pickup—truly comparable to a first-class Hotel. The Room was also thoroughly cleaned and well maintained. The morning scenery around the lodge was magical, and it was a wonderful escape from everyday life. We were very satisfied and look forward to staying again.

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.

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.