Sekinoya

I’ve been taking crab trips to Kasumi every year for eight years, and I’ve never had a lodging facility respond so coldly when my pet’s life was at risk. I understand there’s a cancellation policy, but the lack of consideration and any willingness to compromise over an emergency beyond my control really concerned me. I’d recommend understanding how the owner handles problems or emergencies before booking. The day before my stay, my dog had a severe seizure, and there was a chance I’d need to take them to a nighttime emergency room for treatment and hospitalization. I called to ask about canceling or rescheduling. The owner answered, but after I explained, he insisted, “That’s their situation” and “It’s nothing to do with us.” There was no discussion. I stayed calm and meant to offer several options, including rescheduling, but they wouldn’t even hear me out. On a later call, before I could introduce myself, they said, “It’s you again.” That left me feeling extremely uncomfortable and scared.

The inn itself was clean and had a nice atmosphere. Being by the sea, you could hear gentle waves and kites calling. But I was really looking forward to the hot springs since our Friday night stay didn’t include a meal, so the bath experience was a big letdown. The towels were fuzzy and left residue on my face, and I was sad there wasn’t a special bath the next morning. The toilet, sink, and bath were shared, with no private bathroom in the room. Maybe because it was a weekday, though, we were the only guests and had the place to ourselves. I arrived after work and checked in after 8:30 PM for the crab festival. My friend and I talked about taking turns in the hot spring while we were shown to the room. After my friend went, I headed for the bath just before 9:30, but found that the manager had locked the door and gone in. I thought it was supposed to stay open until 11. I called out to the manager’s office and the bathroom staff, then waited outside for 10 minutes. The manager came out quickly without apologizing.

The food was fresh, delicious, and far more than we could finish. They froze the leftover crab so we could take it home. The renovated room was very clean, too. We were on the second floor, reached only by stairs, and some sections had no handrails. That may be fine for people without mobility issues, but could be inconvenient for others. For the same reason, I thought a chair in the powder room would be useful.

We stayed as a family in November 2025, and having only a few groups at the inn made it easy to relax and enjoy the hot spring together. There were eight groups staying, so we often had the bath to ourselves. We could go whenever we liked, and after dinner we returned as a family and soaked again. My child said happily that his skin felt so smooth. In the morning, we were alone in Saiun and got a private soak, not just a quick morning bath. The food was the highlight. We had the weekday Matsuba Crab Plan, the “Petit Crab Full” plan with crab sashimi, tempura, and two crabs. The meal included grilled crab (Hourakuyaki), crab chiri nabe, crab tempura, crab rice porridge, crab miso, crab sashimi, boiled crab, grilled shrimp, seasonal sashimi, and fruit, plus an option for Tajima Beef Steak. The main crab was set out so we could grill it or make hot pot. The difference between the Petit Course and Full Course was one boiled crab per person versus half a crab. Meals were prepared in advance in a private room, and the next dishes were brought over when we set down our plates, so there was no need to rush or feel watched. My mother liked being able to eat at her own pace. Drinks could be ordered by calling, and staff came to the room. Everything was delicious and plentiful. My oldest loved the crab miso, and said it might be among the best crab we’d had in Kasumi. My mother enjoyed all the dishes too. We were full, so we brought dessert back to our room. Breakfast was lovely as well, with hot crab miso soup and rice, then a second bowl with a hot spring egg. The renovated R2 room had an ocean view from both the bath and toilet, and was spacious, clean, with a decent view, though my feet felt a little cold. The inn is across the road from the Sea of Japan. It’s among many similar-looking guesthouses, and our navigation sent us onto a narrow road by what seemed to be an elementary school instead of turning right after the bridge. We got a little lost, then arrived about 10 minutes early. I checked in right at 3 PM and called several times before a woman finally came out. Our room was at the far end of a long hall, down the stairs. The hot spring is Kasumi Yobe Onsen, an alkaline simple spring said to ease neuralgia, muscle pain, and fatigue, and to be gentle on the skin. Gengetsu and Saiun rotate. Gengetsu was the women’s bath on our arrival day. A sign asked guests to leave the door unlocked because it wasn’t a family bath. The changing room felt crowded with all four of us, though having the bath to ourselves made that less of an issue. The water was quite hot. There were a few things that bothered me. No one came out when I called at check-in. There was no table by the hot spring shower. The closet, safe, and refrigerator were all in one spot and awkward to use. I couldn’t tell whether the bathroom window was meant to be screened from outside, but nothing blocked it, so it seemed possible to see in. The inn isn’t barrier-free, so check whether a wheelchair can be used there. After checking out, we got two bags of persimmons as souvenirs. I’m not sure if the man who came out was the host, but he was friendly when I asked for directions to Amarube Roadside Station. Service was minimal, but the distance felt just right and the stay was comfortable.