Aki-Nagahama Station × Stays Popular For SunsetsHot springHighly rated for rooms and amenities at Hotel·Ryokan

I have stayed at many Hotels and Ryokan with ocean views, but this was one of the most memorable. The views from the Room and the open-air bath were outstanding—thanks to the Hotel’s hilltop location with nothing obstructing the scenery, as well as the serene beauty of the Seto Inland Sea itself. There are very few man-made structures nearby, and the landscape created by the scattered islands is truly stunning. In the distance, we could see bridges of the Shimanami Kaido and parts of Imabari’s townscape, while boats passing below from time to time added a lovely touch to the view. I felt this Hotel is well worth staying at even just to relax and take in this scenery. Because it was listed as “Casual” on IKYU, I initially imagined a standard Hotel that simply highlights its views. In reality, however, we experienced warm, unpretentious hospitality from all staff members. Dinner was not a typical set menu; it showed thoughtful creativity throughout and was delicious. Breakfast was buffet-style, and in particular, I still remember how wonderful the locally harvested blueberries were. This time we rented a car at Hiroshima Station: on our first night we stayed at a Ryokan on Etajima; on day two we toured Takehara before taking a ferry over and enjoying beautiful Setouchi island views from Mount Kamimine prior to check-in. The next day we visited Okunoshima to spend time with its rabbits, then headed home via Mihara to Hiroshima Airport. The Hotel was also extremely convenient as a base for sightseeing routes starting from Hiroshima City toward Kure, Takehara, and Mihara—and we were fully satisfied with every aspect: scenery, dining, and hospitality.

We visited with our children. It was an extremely hot day during summer vacation. Since we arrived early, we had lunch at the restaurant and enjoyed soft-serve ice cream at Usanchu Cafe. The restaurant’s limited “Takehara Fish Rice” (only 10 servings per day) was also delicious. The staff member who explained how to eat it was very pleasant, which left a great impression. To be honest, we didn’t have high expectations for the breakfast and dinner buffets because it’s island food, but everything was very tasty. The sea firefly observation event from 8:00 PM and the morning walk were meaningful experiences that helped us learn about Okunoshima’s history. The former principal’s talk also seemed fun for the kids. Touring the island on the C Walk was another enjoyable experience for our children. I would highly recommend this Hotel to families with kids and to rabbit lovers.