Beppu Onsen SUGINOI HOTEL (ORIX Hotels & Resorts)

Although I live in the prefecture, this is a Hotel I want to visit again. It was my first time staying after the new Hoshi Building opened!Now I’ve tried them all, lol.The Hoshi Building has a strong Japanese atmosphere, and the buffet offers lots of Japanese dishes. If you enjoy alcohol, I recommend the Hoshi Building!Personally, I like the Sora Building best.If Aqua Beat is your main purpose, the Niji Building is very convenient.Since there is no Onsen in the Hoshi Building, getting to it can be a bit of a hassle.The best thing about Suginoi Hotel is how wonderful the staff are!From reception before check-in to everything at the front desk, they explain things carefully and politely.The buffet staff were all smiling as well. When a child at another table spilled food, they cleaned it up immediately and even brought out a fresh replacement—an excellent response.It really warmed my heart.That pleasant service makes me want to come back again and again.However, for some reason only the Tanayu staff were not great. While carrying a basket of wet towels they muttered loudly like, “Ugh! This is so heavy! I can’t carry this!”—their inner thoughts completely spilling out. I watched while changing clothes thinking they could have just removed some towels first before lifting it...When I asked Tanayu staff about something I had left behind, they simply said there was no such lost item and told me—annoyed—to ask at the front desk when checking out tomorrow. It made me feel that only the women’s bath staff at Tanayu lacked quality. The next day when I checked with the front desk, they handled it politely even though it was a busy time.Even with that experience, this is an outstanding Hotel that deserves full marks!

I stayed at Hoshikan for one night. The grounds are vast, so after the pool I checked in and enjoyed the Tanayu baths. The baths are large, and there was a fireworks festival on the ocean side that day, which I could enjoy from the bath.I also dined at Hoshikan, with mainly Japanese cuisine—sushi, sashimi, and Oita specialties. One thing I noticed was that the sashimi portions were small and thin, which felt a bit unsatisfying for an adult man, and the shrimp was boiled. The pudding was delicious.Since Hoshikan does not have its own baths and the property is so expansive, it was quite a trek from my Room to the baths, so I only went once—which I regret. Next time I’d like to stay at Sorakan.