Grand Mercure Wakayama Minabe Resort & Spa

The onsen was lovely, and I was glad it opened early in the morning. The lobby also had a range of drinks available through the evening, which made it easy to concentrate on the food instead of having alcohol with dinner. As a foreigner, I'd never seen such a varied buffet. Everything was fresh and delicious, and the people working at the hotel were wonderful. Such a unique experience.

The beach looks great now. We walked to the nearest one and found it surprisingly covered in rubbish, while the other people there seemed to overlook it. In about ten minutes, we filled three bags with plastic and took them to reception. A very kind gentleman there took care of getting them disposed of properly. More rubbish will wash up, but it doesn't take much effort to pick it up. We love Japanese sashimi and hope we can keep eating it without plastic pollution. 👌🍣

We paid just under 300AUD for all-inclusive, and I thought it was incredible value for the price. Even without that plan, there's free alcohol all afternoon. 😅 Our room had a stunning view, with drinks and snacks available for free through the afternoon. The onsen was beautiful, and there was a buffet too. Both breakfast and dinner were great. Honestly, what a mindblowing hotel, especially for a foreigner.

The onsen setup was the main frustration. Men and women couldn't use it at the same time, apparently because of construction that has been going on for decades, and the time limits made things awkward for people going to dinner or breakfast. There also weren't enough chairs and tables in reception for everyone to enjoy the free lounge drinks and snacks comfortably. Apart from that, we had a great stay. The lounge drinks and snacks were excellent, the pool was great, and the view was awesome. Dinner and breakfast were buffet-style and felt 5-star quality. The onsen itself was nice, with free vinegar drinks there, and each floor had a free water server. Parking was spacious and free, and the hotel was easy to access. Reception was very large, and the toilet was clean. A wheelchair ♿️ user can enjoy the hotel too. Staff were super polite. I especially remember an older gentleman near the lounge, whose name I don't know, being so helpful and polite. Payment is digital only, with PayPay, merpay, and credit cards accepted. No cash payment is accepted.