Arafune Resort

The big bath was a relaxing part of the stay. It's a circulating, filtered hot spring, and the water was clean. There were also paid karaoke rooms and a pool table on the first floor. I was there as a stop on a motorcycle tour, and the old building showed its age, with stains on the walls. My Japanese-style room felt especially cramped. The toilet and washbasin were clean, though. I couldn't book a dinner plan, so I only had breakfast. It was called a Japanese buffet, but there was bread and ham too, more of a mix of Japanese and Western food. There aren't restaurants around the inn, so if you can't reserve dinner, it's best to eat in a nearby town before heading there. A few drops came down from the ceiling in the bath, which seems typical of an old hot spring inn.

The beach just outside was a nice spot, and the sand is unusual for this area. It seemed safe for kids, and deer gather there at night. The building's a little worn, though the staff were friendly and helpful. It's handy for sightseeing around Nachikatsuura, with Kushimoto easy to reach and Taiji close by. There are five washing machines too, which is reassuring.

At 7,200 yen for two people on a weekday, I found it reasonably priced. My Japanese-style room was pretty average, even after reading reviews that had me expecting a surprise. The bath was being repaired, so I used the hot spring on the second floor of the annex instead, and that was nice.