Hagi Honjin

After sightseeing at Kintaikyo Bridge in Iwakuni, we traveled the Hagi–Tsuwano route and chose “Hagi Honjin” as our Accommodation for the second night. The large public bath facilities are exceptionally well equipped. The open-air bath area includes a standing bath, a lying-down bath, a jacuzzi, a sauna, a cold-water bath, and a footbath, along with covered outdoor tubs—plus a spacious open-air bath in the center with an unobstructed view of the sky above. My wife had never been very fond of Onsen trips before—she often felt uneasy because the women’s baths can get crowded and sometimes groups chat right next to you—but here she was able to enjoy multiple baths all by herself and seemed truly relaxed. Since we had dinner at a long-established traditional restaurant, we only had the buffet-style breakfast the next morning; however, both the portions and variety were more than satisfactory. It was also nice to see the chef continuously preparing egg dishes right in front of us. Next time, we would definitely like to book dinner as well.

I stayed one night in a special Room. It was a little disappointing that the bath in the Room was not an Onsen, but it was easy to fill, and the tub was spacious so I could relax and enjoy it. The view from the Room was also great. The amenities and the quality of the bed and pillows were more than sufficient.Also, the staff were wonderful. At dinner, the timing of each dish being served was perfect, and the explanations were polite and easy to understand (my stomach wasn’t feeling great, so I ended up leaving some food—this wasn’t because it tasted bad; I’m sorry). The locally sourced seafood and vegetables were especially delicious.When I checked out and left, I was truly touched that several staff members stood outside waving goodbye with smiles (even though it was hot). Thank you very much.