Sakuto Valentine Hotel

Nice atmosphere, and the staff were kind.

Set on a hill in Mimasaka City, Okayama Prefecture, Sakuto Valentine Hotel is part of Valentine Park Sakuto, a designated “lover’s sanctuary.” The hotel’s theme is love and healing, and it presents itself as a romantic resort surrounded by greenery. Mimasaka City is Japan’s only sister city with Saint-Valentin, France. The hilltop location offers broad views of the Mimasaka mountains and the town below from the guest room and restaurant windows. At dusk the sky turns orange, then the town lights begin to twinkle. The clear air also makes the starry sky a special sight. Designed by architect Kurokawa Kisho, the hotel combines a European-style exterior with a refined interior. There’s a bright chapel and a restaurant serving French cuisine made with plenty of fresh local ingredients. An authentic course meal with the view could make anniversaries or other special occasions memorable. It brings together nature, art, and its hilltop setting. It’s a place to slow down with someone you love and enjoy the view and unhurried time.

I don’t usually post reviews, but the staff’s kindness moved me enough to write this one. The large public bath, one reason I chose the hotel, wasn’t available that day, which was disappointing. The staff were very considerate afterward and understood how I felt. They even found a nearby hot spring facility for me. They also readily answered my question about checkout time, and my room was spacious and comfortable. More than the facilities, I’ll remember how helpful and kind the staff were. They even saw me off in the cold weather. I had a very pleasant stay and would definitely come back. Thank you so much.

We came for a three-generation family trip, and the hotel is in a very quiet spot. My daughter’s family took a Japanese-style room. Our toddler could share our bed without extra bedding and we only had to pay the meal charge, which was a good deal. We didn’t use our room’s bath since there’s a large public one. Dinner was a big hit, with generous servings. Both adults and children were served a fish dish, fried shrimp, followed by a meat dish, hamburger steak, and we couldn’t finish it all. This arrangement might suit older elementary school kids better. We had planned to visit the German Forest but couldn’t because of rain, which wasn’t the hotel’s fault. There seems to be plenty to see nearby, though, and I think the hotel could do more to offer tourist information, including rainy-day ideas.