Chateraise Gateau Kingdom Setouchi

My stay was full of sweet treats!!

What stood out most was how thoughtful and professional the staff were. Everyone greeted me cheerfully around the hotel, and the front desk and restaurant service were both excellent. My wife was really pleased too, so thank you. She’d wanted to visit because the hotel is run by Chateraise, known for its sweets. At check-in we each got a welcome cake. Mine had lots of layers of cream and dough, and hers was drizzled with chocolate. Both tasted great. The building may be a little old, but it’s been renovated beautifully and feels modern and stylish. We enjoyed both the dinner and breakfast buffets. They served us a bottle of wine at dinner, and when we couldn’t finish it, they quickly packed it to take away with two glasses on a tray. They also covered up the cake we couldn’t finish so we could eat it later in our room. The restaurant is a little way from the ocean, but you can see it from there. Having breakfast with that peaceful view of the Seto Inland Sea was lovely.

The Japanese-style room was clean and roomy, and the large public bath was kept in good shape. There were sweets everywhere too: ice cream after bathing, cake at breakfast, and omelets cooked right in front of us. It made for a very pleasant stay.

The lemon Christmas tree in the courtyard was adorable, and the big, clean bath was a pleasure. All the shampoos had a lemon scent that left me feeling refreshed. I came for the all-you-can-eat buffet, and between dinner and breakfast, the welcome sweets, and unlimited ice cream, I was never short of food. I tried to eat less and made up for it with several baths. It’s a quiet location with no shops around, but the grounds are spacious and the building feels luxurious. A nice break from the city bustle. I’d come back, and I’d like to try the other hotels too. One thing bothered me: the man at the front desk seemed unsure of his job. He didn’t smile and was slow with the register. I found myself wondering if anyone at the company could show him how to do it, and worrying more than I needed to.