Arashi no Yakata

The hospitality was on another level. Big room, and the rooms have new decor.

I wanted somewhere to unwind on the way back from Mie, and this place felt fairly new with a nice atmosphere. The meal service could have been better timed, as it seemed hard for them to keep track of how far along the meal was, though I could see they were trying to accommodate us. I also heard hallway and outdoor noise, with footsteps echoing loudly. Perhaps because the staff and management are Chinese, I felt they missed some small details. I hope things improve in the future.

This was my second stay, in February 2026. The room was clean and had a nice view, but arriving late at night meant I couldn't see the sunset. Dinner, which was Chinese, and buffet breakfast were included for a surprisingly low price. It's a business hotel in a tourist area. The entrance to the room doesn't seem well sealed, perhaps because it used to be a ryokan, so conversations from inside carry clearly into the hallway. The bath is small and can fit only about five people, making it impractical for a group. I went to a day-use hot spring at another hotel instead. They provide yukata (Japanese robes), but no haori (short jackets). I didn't feel much of the traditional Japanese "omotenashi" (hospitality). It may suit business travelers better than people hoping to relax on vacation.

This hotel is near Hamanako Animal Park, so it's a handy location for visiting Kanzanji and Pal Pal. It's a Chinese-style hotel with Chinese staff whose Japanese was no problem. I didn't see any Japanese staff. The interior was clean, perhaps because the hotel was built recently. The room was spacious, but the air conditioner smelled awful when it was on, which could be rough in summer or winter. The walls also seemed a little thin. There's just one old-style large public bath, with no private bath or outdoor bath. Dinner was Chinese food, served extremely hot but tasting good. Breakfast was a Japanese and Chinese buffet, but the selection was limited and the dishes were cold, maybe because I arrived at a bad time. That was a letdown after the good dinner. The price is low, so it felt about right for what I paid. When I stayed, it seemed like all the other guests were Japanese. Hope this helps.