Around Engetsu Island × Highly rated for dining at Hotel·Ryokan

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

We stayed here for a family trip. There were plenty of kid-friendly facilities such as the pool, illuminations, and a playroom, and we had a great time! Our children were thrilled and kept saying, “We want to come again,” so we were very satisfied as parents. The Onsen was wonderful, and we really appreciated having unlimited towels available at both the Onsen and the pool—it made everything comfortable and stress-free. The staff were also polite and kind. The only thing that bothered us was having to wait for the elevator at times. As for dining, there were occasional lines at dinner buffet stations where chefs cook in front of you, but it wasn’t a big issue. At breakfast, since it’s split into two time slots, there were lines during our time; however, I think that’s unavoidable during busy mornings. It was a lovely Hotel that made us want to return!

We stayed as a family with our pet rabbit. Every staff member welcomed us with warm smiles and kind service, and the female staff at the dining area in particular spoke to our rabbit and took lots of photos for us, so our rabbit was able to relax and feel comfortable. The meals were also filling, with fresh and luxurious boat platters of sashimi, tempura, and more. As it was a Multiple Night Stay, when we returned from going out on the second day, fresh towels, extra trash bags, and replacements such as the kettle and teacups had been prepared for us, which we truly appreciated. We were also very grateful that there was no time limit for bathing. The Onsen left our skin smooth and silky, and even after returning home my skin continued to feel great. There happened to be the Shirarahama Fireworks Festival during our stay, and they kindly told us how to get to the venue as well as good viewing spots, which was very helpful. Since there are only a limited number of Accommodation where you can stay with a rabbit, we’re really glad we found such a wonderful place. We would love to stay 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.

A typhoon was approaching and the weather looked rainy, but it didn’t rain much, and we were able to see a wonderful sunset from the restaurant. The view from the large public bath was also amazing. The meals, made with ingredients from Wakayama, were all delicious. It was disappointing that we couldn’t watch Netflix or Amazon Prime in the room (the internet didn’t seem to connect) and that the shuttle bus service has been discontinued, but everything else was great. I’d like to stay again. Thank you very much.

Being able to enjoy a variety of alcoholic drinks during dinner was amazing! I was especially happy to have a Nagisa Beer server. The Room was spacious, clean, and comfortable. I also appreciated the free massage chair. There are many stairs to the large public bath, and even more to the panoramic open-air bath. It might be tough for elderly guests. However, the view and the hot spring water are wonderful, so I definitely recommend going.

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 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.

Although it was the cheapest Plan, the Room was spacious and clean, and the half-buffet meals were very filling. Since there are many international guests, I wished there had been bread at breakfast—this was the only downside—but otherwise the staff were kind and I was very satisfied. Next time, I’d like to stay in a Room with a private open-air bath.

As someone who loves traveling and stays at many different Accommodations, I found this place exceptionally comfortable. The Room was spacious and airy, spotless, and thoroughly cleaned down to every corner. It was so relaxing that it truly helped me recover from travel fatigue. The Mirable shower in the bath was another great highlight—after bathing, I felt completely refreshed, as if all the day’s grime had been washed away. Having a washing machine in the Room—and even a single-use portion of detergent—was incredibly convenient. Using the bathroom’s washer-dryer function, my laundry dried properly, which was a huge help. I traveled with my dog, and we never felt cramped—there was plenty of openness. It also had a resort-like feel, and I loved being able to unwind with my dog. If you want to relax comfortably even while traveling, this is an Accommodation I highly recommend. It was such a wonderful stay that I’d love to return.

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.

Before check-in on the first day, we went to Shirarahama Beach. On the second day, we visited Adventure World. On the third day, after checking out, we went to Sandanbeki Cliff, had lunch at Toretore Market, and then headed home. It was a very fulfilling and enjoyable trip. The dinners on the first and second nights were different, so we never got tired of them and enjoyed everything—delicious throughout. The abalone was outstanding! We traveled as three families, and our grandchild was thrilled to be able to use the pool four times over two days—it was so much fun. It was truly wonderful. The café coffee was very good as well; we used it both days.

I finally got to experience this Accommodation I’d been curious about for a while, thanks to its appealing Instagram posts and high rankings online! In conclusion, it’s a wonderful Onsen Accommodation with a high level of satisfaction that truly lives up to the hype. The food is especially outstanding. At dinner—famous for its boat platter—you can enjoy Kishu-style whale dishes, along with a lineup of carefully prepared courses. As for the Onsen, it was a bit disappointing that every bath felt too hot to fully relax in, but you can still enjoy thoughtfully designed baths, including an open-air bath where you can feel the sea up close. I’m glad I found an Accommodation I’d love to return to in another season.

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.