Mekari Station, Kanmon Strait × Stays Popular For SunsetsHighly rated Hotel·Ryokan for Onsen and bath

I stayed here again this year following last year. The lack of an auto-lock was not an issue for me. It was sufficient and satisfactory. There was plenty of parking space, and I could also park my motorcycle.

All the staff were friendly and welcoming with great smiles. The Room was spacious, the view was wonderful, and we were able to relax. Thank you for celebrating my birthday as well. It was a very nice idea. The breakfast buffet had a wide variety of options, was delicious, and we were very satisfied. We’re truly glad we chose such a great Hotel. Thank you very much.

Facing the Kanmon Straits, it was soothing to watch the ships passing through all the time. The meals were carefully selected and delicious. It was also great to be able to see the straits from the bath; however, the bath was quite crowded with many local residents, which surprised me a little. As a request, I think it would be relaxing if you could use some aroma fragrance or incense in the corridor where the Room is located.

About a 5–6 minute taxi ride from Shimonoseki Station. Karato Market is just a short walk away, and it was conveniently located for dinner at Shunpanro, so we chose to stay at this hotel. We were also planning to visit Moji the next day, and the ferry terminal is right in front of the hotel, which made our stay very comfortable. There’s also a convenience store right next door! The vending machines inside are reasonably priced (not marked up), which felt very fair. The facilities do feel a bit dated, but in a nostalgic way—with that trendy Showa-retro vibe. It was a little disappointing that the front desk staff seemed somewhat unfriendly.

This time, I stayed two nights on the Mojiko side, then took the ferry across to the Shimonoseki side for one night. It was a very sunny and hot day, but Karato Market, the Karato Ferry Terminal, Kaikyokan (Shimonoseki Aquarium), Hai! Karatto Yokocho (a small amusement park), and RISONARE are all lined up in the same area, so it’s great that you can enjoy everything within walking distance. On top of that, the Hotel offers plenty of kid-friendly activities such as the pufferfish pool and pufferfish beach, and the little ones looked like they were having a wonderful time. I also saw families staying with three generations together—this seems like an excellent choice for family trips. As for me, it was a solo trip for one night, so I treated myself to a full pufferfish Italian course at Otto Sette in the dining room (the aperitif was served on the terrace at sunset before moving into the dining room!). I also enjoyed a relaxing resort stay in a new and comfortable Room while taking in views of the Kanmon Straits. In the morning, I started my walk before dawn along Arukaport Promenade by the sea in front of the Hotel. With cool sea breezes and gradually brightening skies over the Kanmon Straits, I walked past Karato Market to Sister City Plaza at the end of the promenade to watch sunrise. Then I returned along the same path back to the Hotel and joined “Sea Breeze Stretch” on Namunami Terrace with its beautifully kept lawn. After that came an incredible breakfast buffet with so many options it was hard to choose—I enjoyed it right up to my limit. At PUKU PUKU’s breakfast buffet, kawara soba, seafood marinated rice bowls, and French toast are must-haves—go hungry. Even though it was only one night, it felt incredibly fulfilling. I’d love to come back—and now I want to visit other RISONARE properties too. Also, even if you make a Reservation here, it’s convenient that you can log in on their official website using your Reservation Number and arrange meals and activities online in advance.