Romantic Hotels in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan

"The location is a bit remote, so driving yourself might be more convenient. When we arrived at Shirahama Station, there were no taxis left, so we called the hotel for help. They said they would help book a taxi, but we waited for almost an hour. We're not sure if it was the taxi we waited for or one booked by the hotel, but we made it safely in the end. The hotel is fantastic. Compared to the Yunohana Onsen we stayed at later, I think this place is much better in every aspect—from the service and facilities to the amenities provided. The beach is also wonderful."

"The room was spacious enough to open our luggage, and the view was fantastic, directly overlooking the Pacific Ocean – an unbeatable sea view on a clear day. The hot springs were excellent, with a public bath offering expansive ocean views and private onsen available for free (first-come, first-served). Dinner was rich in variety and exquisitely prepared. Overall, it was a wonderful stay. It's also conveniently located near Senjojiki and Sandanbeki, just a short walk or one or two bus stops away."

"The corner room faced the city, not the river, which was a bit disappointing. However, I was happy to see the blue sky, white clouds, and sunrise the next morning. There's a public library nearby, which you can browse before leaving. There's also a small supermarket in the station where you can buy fruits and bread, so you don't need to add breakfast. To be honest, the hotel's Japanese-style breakfast wasn't to my taste. The men's and women's baths don't switch between morning and evening, and the men's bath has a better view. The hotel staff were all very polite and attentive, and we could communicate with simple English."

"There are so many negative reviews online about Hotel Urashima (ignore the haters!), but my recent stay there was nothing short of fantastic! Turn right from JR Kii-Katsuura Station and it's just a few minutes' walk to the Urashima pier. The schedule for the cute turtle ferry has been updated (see photo 1), and evening shuttle boats have been added (wait across from Bankylor, near the pier benches), running about every 20 minutes until past 9 PM. The town of Katsuura has plenty of great eateries—you can have a nice meal and leisurely take the shuttle back to the hotel. I stayed for 2 days in a Japanese-style room in the Honkan (Main Building) with a window view of Katsuura Bay. The room decor has a charming retro vibe, but it is extremely well-maintained and very clean. Staff come by between 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM to lay out the futons. Sleeping on a futon for the first time felt a bit firm, but it was a fresh and novel experience. During my stay, I soaked in both cave hot springs—they were perfection—and even caught the sunset at狼烟山 (Mount Warashiyama). All in all, Hotel Urashima is well worth a visit."

"This was my first time in Shirahama, and I chose Sanrakuso as my first stop. Let me start with the pros: it's very close to the beach, just across the street, making it super convenient for beach activities. There's also a bus stop right outside, so transportation is easy. The hot springs were decent. The downside is that the hotel feels a bit old and a little dated overall. But all in all, I'm still satisfied."

"I chose this hot spring hotel in Nachikatsuura for a short trip to the Kumano Kodo. Instead of opting for the most famous Hotel Urashima or the newer TAOYA, I went with a hotel that has a bit more history and unique character. Before coming, I checked its background: it was formerly the long-established Japanese ryokan ”Katsuura Gyoen” founded in the Showa era. It was later taken over and renovated by Mystays Hotel Group, and reopened in April 2024 under its current name, Kamenoi Hotel Nachikatsuura. The hotel (ryokan?) is fairly close to the station, making it much more convenient to get to than Hotel Urashima. It faces the ocean views of Katsuura Bay directly, which must look quite lovely on a clear day, and it's about a ten-minute walk to the torii gate. The exterior of the building isn't particularly striking, but the lobby has likely been renovated recently and looks quite nice overall. Perhaps because the guests are predominantly foreign tourists, the receptionist's English was very clear, and her directions were spot-on. Public facilities focus mainly on the hot springs, accompanied by a time-restricted beverage bar and noodle bar, as well as an entertainment room. We booked a spacious room close to 90 square meters. The door still used a traditional old-fashioned key, and as soon as you stepped inside, you could smell the tatami mats. The facilities are quite dated due to the hotel's age, but everything was relatively clean. For travelers who haven't experienced this kind of hot spring ryokan before, it's quite interesting. Although the room offered a sea view, the glass was rather old and dirty, which detracted from the experience—something I'd recommend they improve. We booked a half-board plan (dinner and breakfast included) with selectable dining times. The portions looked small at first, but they were surprisingly filling overall. While it was great to experience traditional Japanese cuisine, we weren't seated in the first-floor ocean-view restaurant, but rather in a traditional Japanese banquet hall on the second floor, which felt a bit like getting the short end of the stick. The hot springs are located on the second floor; the facilities inside are quite new, featuring both indoor and outdoor baths. The outdoor bath doesn't offer ocean views at night, but if you go late enough, you can get the whole place to yourself. Since the ryokan doesn't have a large staff, I didn't experience any particularly standout service during my stay. Also, watching the price of the room I booked two months in advance steadily drop (even dropping further just a few days before check-in) was honestly pretty frustrating. But overall, as a first-time experience staying in a Japanese hot spring ryokan, it was quite an interesting trip. Due to an aging population and young people moving away, Nachikatsuura itself looks rather desolate. Aside from service facilities and shops, you barely see anyone on the streets, especially young people—most people you encounter walking around are foreign tourists. Still, for travelers, this kind of atmosphere has its own unique charm. That's all."

"For just over 1000 yen, getting a one-night stay with two meals for two people, plus a sea view, is incredible value! The dinner buffet, while not huge, had excellent quality ingredients. We feasted on delicious salmon and tuna. The room was spacious. Sure, there were a few minor imperfections in some corners, but for this price, I can't complain. The only real issue was that the hotel only offers free luggage storage until 3 PM. They didn't mention this when we dropped off our bags. Halfway through our Kumano Kodo hike, a friend behind me delivered the bad news. I ended up having to carry six people's luggage to our next accommodation all by myself. It was quite a heartbreaking experience."

"I have completed a self-driving tour in Japan with the Sanbaibing Hotel. The hotel I chose today is a hot spring resort hotel with dinner and breakfast. The price is not cheap. The room is a sea view room with a nice view and a large room. Although the hotel is quite old, it is still clean and tidy. The buffet food in the evening is of good variety, taste and ingredients. The price is worth it. There are almost no restaurants around the hotel, so it is best to book dinner and breakfast at the hotel. The breakfast is also very rich. When traveling in Japan, my favorite thing is the hotel breakfast. The ingredients are really fresh and delicious. The hotel also has a large bath for hot spring bathing, especially the open-air hot spring. If it snows in winter, it is very artistic."

"This is a large and luxurious hotel. Both breakfast and dinner buffets were plentiful and delicious, offering great value for money. However, the hotel is quite old. While it's well-maintained, the rooms definitely show their age. The location is also a bit out of the way; it's fine if you're driving, but I'm not sure about public transport."

"Oooedo Onsen Monogatari: Not a Resort, a Rebirth* This isn't just a hot spring resort; it's a portal to another dimension. From the moment you swap your clothes for a yukata, the magic begins. You are no longer a tourist; you are a traveler in time. The ryokan experience is pure bliss. Waking up on tatami mats, the world outside feels distant, irrelevant. And the onsens... from open-air baths under the stars to secluded rock pools. Each immersion strips away a layer of urban fatigue, leaving only tranquility. But the true glory is the indulgence. Exquisite kaiseki dinners featuring the ocean's freshest treasures, paired with all-you-can-drink sake, beer, and whisky. It’s a feast for the soul where you never have to say ”no.” You don't just leave this place relaxed. You leave reborn, carrying the taste of a life lived more fully, if only for a weekend. It’s an investment in your soul."