Hagihonjin

The service was the standout. Most staff were very friendly, and at checkout they really went out of their way to thank us and wave as we left. The hilltop setting is quiet and gives a lovely view over much of Hagi, with a bit of ocean visible too. It's a nice walk to Shoin Shrine, though the return climb is a bit steep. Free regular shuttles to East Hagi station and Meirinkan were handy. Our standard room felt a little small for the price, and the layout was odd, with the toilet right by the entrance and the bathroom on the other side. It was clean, but the futon was thin and felt hard. The onsen had several types of baths, which was fun, but walking between them was very cold. I'd bring a larger towel to wrap around yourself. The jet bath was cooler than the others, so my child could stay in longer. After a warm, but not hot, bath, the walk back to the building was chilly. The stars looked lovely from the roofless outdoor bath at night. Dinner was okay, though nothing special. Maybe we should have chosen something other than the yasuragi course. The sake list was limited despite Hagi having lots of good sake. The restaurant was clean and modern, a little different from the rest of the hotel. The child's dessert was lovely, with lots of fresh fruit. Breakfast was a regular buffet with machine-served drinks. On Sunday morning it was crowded, and some servers stayed empty for a while. For the price, the stay was neither bad nor great.

Our stay in a Japanese-Western room in the Honmaru Wing was one of our best so far. It was on the seventh floor, the second highest level, and spacious and luxurious, with a beautiful view of Hagi. The staff were all friendly and sincere, and did their best to explain things in English to my wife and me, since we couldn't understand Japanese. The accommodation included a complimentary ten-course dinner, with plenty of variety, including nabe, tempura, and sashimi. There was also a wide selection of public onsen baths. They face the vegetation across from the hotel, and we could easily spend hours relaxing in them while looking out at nature. We'd definitely like to come back.

The onsen was fantastic, with about seven baths in each of the male and female areas, which switch over each day. We also tried the private onsen, and it had a really nice atmosphere. The dinner was wonderful, better than a wedding meal. From the moment we drove in, the welcome was warm. The staff were first class, friendly, informative, and lovely people. It felt like a very well-run onsen hotel, and I couldn't fault the experience. Highly recommended.

I only went to the onsen and didn't stay at the hotel. It's one of the few in Hagi that you can visit without being a hotel guest. The place was very clean and modern, with a premium feel, seven different kinds of baths, and a great garden view. It cost more than the other onsen I visited, but I thought it was well worth it.