Hotel Tatsuki

A nice place.

The building seems to have been a fine hotel once, but both the outside and inside now feel worn. The lobby carpet is black, there are stains in the dining area and on the room tatami, and some wallpaper is torn or peeling. Even so, cleaning wasn't a major problem. I stayed on the Silver Basic Plan for guests over 40, which included two meals at a reasonable price, and was very satisfied. The menu was limited and clearly budget-conscious, with food that ran a little salty but was still tasty. The hot spring baths are old and could use repairs, though the men's bath is spacious and relaxing. The inn sits at the tip of the cape in Nishiura Onsen. Its best features are the amazing view and kind staff, and the retro feel makes it enjoyable on a budget despite the building's age.

Tokugawa fans should make a point of visiting. The armor and other exhibits were well worth a look. The building is old, though the inside is clean. There's a great view of the nearby sea, and the roomy public bath has excellent hot spring water. There are a lot of stairs in the building and around the bath, so anyone with mobility problems may find it risky and will definitely need someone with them.

We reserved two standard rooms for eight people, and the inn kindly upgraded us to a special room because of our group size. The food was mostly delicious, and the views from the lobby, rooms, public bath, and lighthouse terrace were superb. Getting around was difficult for elderly people with disabilities. There are many stairs, and although some spots have ramps, they're steep and have no handrails, so they felt unsafe. The building is dark, and the gift shop has very few souvenirs. I also wish there were numbered tags for slippers left outside the public bath. In the washing area, sitting in a lower seat means the next person's water runs over you. There's no Wi-Fi and no mineral water or cold-water pitcher in the room. The shared Japanese-style toilets should be replaced with Western-style ones. Dinner service was short-staffed, and the tempura arrived cold. A free welcome drink or something similar would be nice.