Hotéis 5-Star em Hyogo Prefecture, Japan

The hotel is situated within the Awaji Island Park theme park. Guests need to first park their car at Parking Lot F, then call the hotel to arrange a shuttle pick-up. If your mobile phone only has data and no local calling minutes in Japan, you can use the hotel's direct phone located at the park entrance to contact them. A dedicated vehicle quickly arrived at the park entrance to pick us up, and it was less than a 5-minute drive to reach the hotel premises. Upon arrival, we checked in at a charming little cabin and were offered a dessert and a welcome drink. Even though I wasn't staying in a themed room, the cabin was incredibly spacious and comfortable, featuring a large balcony. The room was stocked with fresh fruit and snacks, and the minibar drinks were complimentary. Even though it was late May, the evening temperatures were quite low. The hotel thoughtfully provided coats and blankets. Unfortunately, it's a shame it was too cloudy to see the stars. What truly stood out was the exceptional attentiveness and friendliness of all the staff members – they were impeccable. No wonder their Google ratings are so high! For dinner, we enjoyed a Western-Japanese fusion Sabusabu meal. Each pair of diners received a platter of purple sea urchin, which was hands down the most delicious sea urchin I've ever tasted. If I ever have the chance to visit Awaji Island again, I would definitely choose to stay here.

First off, the rooms were really clean and spacious. I booked a connecting room which was perfect for a big family; one room for the elders and one for the kids. The front desk gave us a room on the 10th floor with an ocean view. Below us were the Ocean Museum and Meriken Park, offering not just a wide-open view but also super convenient access for walking around with the kids. Secondly, there are attractions nearby like the Anpanman Children's Museum and Daimaru department store, both about 900 meters away. If it's under 30 degrees Celsius, you can easily walk there. We often took a taxi to Sannomiya, which only took about 5 minutes. Lastly, I have to praise the pool. The water was crystal clear and clean, with one large pool and a jacuzzi. Floats and armbands were available for free use, and the best part was, there was hardly anyone there! 3300 JPY per person was definitely worth it. The bakery in the lobby (I think it was called Camellia) was excellent. They restocked daily, and their bread was more authentic than most bakeries in Kobe.

Grand Mercure Awaji Island boasts unparalleled sea views of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge and the Seto Inland Sea. Its excellent location, however, makes it best suited for guests traveling by car. Our sea-view room was spacious and comfortable, with floor-to-ceiling windows that made the morning sea sunrise a daily spectacle. Both breakfast and dinner offered a wide variety of dishes; we especially recommend the Awaji Island milk and local onion specialties. However, dining options nearby are limited, meaning you'll likely rely on the hotel's restaurant for dinner. Without a car, finding other dining spots would require a taxi. The hotel service was attentive, and the front desk staff spoke fluent English, providing helpful guides to local attractions. While the rooftop open-air hot spring bath isn't natural, it was uncrowded, peaceful, and incredibly relaxing with its sea views. On the downside, the facilities are a bit dated, and there's a noticeable lack of family-friendly entertainment options. Overall, this hotel is ideal for guests seeking serene sea views and a relaxed pace, offering particularly excellent value for money during the off-season.

The room was quite spacious, and the massage chair was a pleasant surprise – very comfortable to use. The room introduction was quite detailed, and it was my first time experiencing a traditional Japanese onsen ryokan. The tatami mats were interesting, and I slept well. The entire hotel felt like a museum; despite its age, it had a lot of character. I felt like I got a deeper understanding of Japanese culture, which I really appreciated. The service, apart from being led to our room with traditional Japanese bows and the room introduction, was mostly self-service. However, this was my first time staying at a 'one night, two meals' ryokan, so I'm not sure if all onsens are like this. We also didn't have large luggage, just our bags, so maybe that's why we didn't notice any issues with luggage service. On a positive note, the front desk immediately knew which pair of shoes were ours when we checked out, which was good service. On the downside, the room's air conditioning unit was so well hidden that it took ages to find, and I was cold for quite a while. The phone either didn't work or I couldn't figure out how to use it. Also, we booked the private onsen from 8 PM to 9:30 PM. After relaxing for a bit, it was already close to 11 or 12. The public onsen closed from 12 AM to 1 AM, so we couldn't use it. We needed about 8 or 9 hours of sleep, and breakfast was scheduled for 9 AM. After breakfast, from 9:30 AM to 11 AM, the public onsen was closed. When we asked, the front desk informed us that check-out was strictly at 11 AM and we couldn't use the public onsen after checking out. So, we missed out on the public onsen, which was a real shame and couldn't be negotiated. In any five-star hotel in any country I've traveled to, it's usually possible to discuss using facilities after check-out. But it seems traditional onsen ryokans are all this rigid. While that might be how Japanese people are, for a hotel of this price, and for clearly inexperienced foreigners (we were even reminded we wore our kimonos the wrong way), when asking about meal times, couldn't they have kindly informed us that we needed to plan our breakfast, dinner, and onsen times accordingly? The food was light and flavorful. I don't eat seafood, and they were able to adjust the meals to my preferences. Communication two months prior was very responsive. However, for us, it was a bit too plain; Japanese people would probably love it. This was my first trip with my husband after giving birth, and I had been looking forward to the onsen part for a long time. I was very happy on the check-in day, but not being able to use the public onsen on the second day was still a big regret.

The hotel service and environment are excellent, offering a free shuttle service from the station to the hotel. The meals and private hot springs are highlights, making for a perfect overnight stay with two meals. The entire hot spring town also has six public hot spring pools, each with its own unique features. There are many charming little shops along the street to explore, offering a tranquil escape from the city's hustle and bustle, allowing you to relax and rejuvenate!

This was our top choice hotel for summer school in Kobe, and the school bus stopped right downstairs, making daily commutes incredibly convenient. The hotel's location is excellent, about a 15-minute walk from Sannomiya. Getting to Shin-Kobe Station for the Shinkansen, Sannomiya Station for the JR lines, or simply taking the subway from downstairs is all very easy. There are also bus stops right outside for trips to Rokko or Sannomiya. You can also catch a bus from Shin-Kobe Station, accessible via a connected walkway, to areas like Umie, Kobe Harborland, and Meriken Park. Even trips to the outlet mall and Kobe Airport are easily manageable. So, transportation truly is a breeze. The hotel itself has a good number of rooms, and the front desk area is grand, spacious, and open. There was a minor hiccup during check-in, but the staff resolved it immediately. We stayed on the 29th floor, the highest non-executive floor, which was relatively quiet and offered fantastic views. We could see the Nunobiki cable car station right next door and the ocean in the distance. At night, enjoying the city lights from our room was truly delightful. The room was a good size, offering plenty of space to move around, and even had a sofa and a desk, which was perfect for my daughter to do her writing. The two complimentary bottles of mineral water each day tasted great, and the aluminum cans were very light to carry out. The shower had excellent water pressure, making both showering and bathing very comfortable. The hairdryer was a little weak, though, taking a bit of time to dry hair. Hotel breakfast was an absolute highlight! First, I want to commend every single dining staff member for their meticulous and thoughtful service. We dined in the restaurant every day during our half-month stay, and after just a few days, the staff recognized us. They would always smile and greet us proactively when we entered and exited the restaurant, which felt very welcoming. The breakfast itself was incredibly rich, with a full selection of vegetables and fruits, both in quantity and quality, making the breakfast-included option highly recommended. During this time, we did cause a little trouble once or twice 🙏 and we are truly sorry for that. However, the staff were incredibly friendly and responded very promptly, which deeply touched my daughter and me. Thank you again for your hard work; your service was truly exceptional! The housekeeping staff were also very thorough and attentive. Every day, as soon as I hung the 'do not disturb' sign and left, they would immediately spring into action. By the time I returned, the room was already spotlessly clean. We hope to have the opportunity to stay here again for a while next year.

Food was great and Eri-san was very friendly and helpful. The room was really clean and love the private onsen with amazing view. I love how attentive Eri-san was as well, the timing in which the next meal came was impeccable, allowing me to enjoy the food thoroughly. Other ryokans I have stayed before (despite being more expensive), the breaks between the food served was very short and it felt like I was rushing to eat. The outdoor hotspring bath was great and perfect for people who cannot stand too high temperatures. Unfortunately, when we wanted to dip in Gekkoen's more traditional and older outdoor hotspring, it was being cleaned. Would love to try dipping in it the next time we visit again.

We stayed at Negiya Ryofukaku in Arima Onsen during the maple leaf season, opting for the West Wing's deluxe Japanese-Western mixed room with a mountain view. The hotel staff were incredibly attentive and thoughtful, making us feel truly comfortable. Looking out the window, the mountain was ablaze with vibrant red maple leaves, like a flowing oil painting—the scenery far exceeded our expectations. Upon check-out, the hotel even thoughtfully arranged a car to take us to Arima Station, which was incredibly convenient.

I stayed for four consecutive days, and the view outside the window was as beautiful as I expected. However, when I checked in on the first afternoon, a large cruise ship was docked right outside my balcony, completely blocking the view even though my room was on the 11th floor. I contacted the hotel through Trip.com, and they responded that the ship would depart by 5 PM. When I looked at the pictures before, the cruise ships always docked on the south side, so I didn't expect this situation. On the morning of the fourth day, I woke up to find another cruise ship docked outside. Just a heads-up for future guests. The overall room environment was fine, but the cleaning staff seemed a bit lazy. Disposable slippers weren't replenished daily, nor were the disposable toiletries or the coffee and tea bags. Each day, they only replaced the trash bags and refilled three bottles of mineral water. My shower gel ran out, so I deliberately left the empty bottle on the sink to remind them, but it remained untouched for three consecutive days. During check-in, the hotel overlooked one night of my reservation. I was initially supposed to stay in one room for the first night and then move to another room on the second day. This meant I'd have to check out at noon and couldn't check in again until 3 PM, which would have completely disrupted my plans for the second day. In the end, I had to communicate with the hotel through Trip.com to ensure I could stay in the same room for all four days. The hotel breakfast is pretty standard Western fare, nothing special. It's okay for a day or two, but after that, you might want to switch it up and try the Starbucks next to the hotel.

★★★★★ Amazing Ryokan Experience in Arima Onsen We had an absolutely wonderful stay at Arima Onsen Taketoritei Maruyama. From the moment we arrived, the hospitality and service were exceptional. The staff were warm, attentive and made us feel very welcomed throughout the stay. The private onsen experience was fantastic — peaceful, relaxing and beautifully maintained. The atmosphere of the ryokan was calm and luxurious, especially with the mountain surroundings and fresh air after the rain. It was the perfect escape from the city. Our room was spacious, clean and very comfortable for the family. The meals were also delicious and beautifully presented, with great quality ingredients and authentic Japanese cuisine. The shuttle service, attention to detail and overall guest experience were all top-notch. We truly enjoyed every part of our stay and wished we could stay longer. Highly recommended for anyone visiting Arima Onsen looking for a relaxing and memorable ryokan experience. We would definitely love to return again in the future.