Hotel Tokaien

We wanted a place by the sea where we could relax in a private bath, so we chose this hotel in Gamagori City, Aichi Prefecture. From the website and booking site, I expected an old inn, but it has a charming retro feel from an earlier era that modern hotels don’t have. A hotel employee welcomed us in the parking lot, then carefully explained the facilities in the lobby. The hospitality extras were a surprise. At check-in they had welcome drinks, hot wine, cocoa, and roasted marshmallows, even though the booking site hadn’t mentioned them. It was the middle of winter, so they really warmed us up. From 10 p.m. they also serve late-night ramen; I picked the miso from the three options. There are several plans too, including a New Year’s gift plan with a 1,000 yen coupon and a discount on the private bath. The private baths were much roomier than I expected, from one large enough for the whole family to an open-air bath. During the day you can see the ocean and sunset, and the wooden-plank tub felt warm. We could also watch the sunrise from our room, with the sun rising over the Atsumi Peninsula in clear, vivid colors. The panoramic lounge on the 10th floor is worth a look for its view across the ocean. There was a mystery-solving campaign going on during our visit as well. I was very satisfied with how much care and variety went into welcoming guests. You can watch the sunset from the nearby beach too, so take a look.

The inn sits much higher than the other hotels and inns around it, which makes the sea views from the rooms and hot springs especially appealing. We visited on a three-day family weekend and found plenty to enjoy. There was a broad choice at breakfast and dinner, including desserts and drinks. The seafood was incredibly fresh, and the meat and other dishes were excellent too. The open-air baths switch between men and women in the morning and evening, so you get a different bathing experience. We also liked the free drinks available at a designated spot during set hours. With meals included, it felt like excellent value for money. One small issue: there seemed to be a few mosquitoes in the dining area, perhaps because it’s so close to the sea. Taking care of that would make the place even better. I was also impressed to see so many foreign staff working hard at the front desk and in the dining area, and wanted to support them. Thanks for everything, and please keep making this a wonderful inn!

I was able to walk down to the beach, which I’d assumed wouldn’t be possible. There are signs inside the hotel showing the way, though the hallway was dark enough to make me a little nervous. The ocean view from the room and open-air bath was beautiful. I have back pain and was worried about sleeping on a futon, but it wasn’t too thin and I slept comfortably. The place has an old-fashioned, traditional feel that’s part of its charm. The food was delicious, and I’d love to return. I stayed in mid-December. I’d missed the specified payment method when booking online, but they kindly accommodated a different one. Thanks for going to the trouble.

The top-floor panoramic lounge in the main building has a spectacular 360-degree view. It was raining when we visited, but it was still great. The hotel is on a hill at the cape and is fairly old overall, though quiet and relaxing. The hot spring baths were clean, and the open-air bath was very pleasant, if a little hot. Dinner and breakfast were average, but perfectly fine. We stayed as a family, and I’d come back if I get the chance.