Hotel Anaga

I enjoyed the stay and would have given it five stars if not for a few things. The service was amazing, and the staff treated us very well. From our room we could see the bridge and ocean. The location was great, and both breakfast and lunch were tasty and well prepared. I especially liked the French-Japanese dinner fusion, and the Japanese breakfast was also really good. We left the restaurant satisfied. What bothered me was the 2,000 yen per person charge to use the pool at night. The hotel is already pricey, so I think night swimming should be included. Dinner was another issue: they seated us at 20:00, though the website says dinner starts at 17:30 or 19:00. It seemed they’d booked up those times and quietly moved us later. My kids were tired and fell asleep during dinner, and nobody apologized or explained what happened, which made it worse. This may be nitpicking, but the TVs aren’t smart and don’t have YouTube or other apps. It’s handy with kids to put on Netflix or YouTube while you shower, rest, or do something else. Despite those complaints, I enjoyed the place quite a lot, but there’s room to improve.

The French restaurant was a special experience, with a beautiful view of the water and Naruto bridge. Its original dishes made excellent use of wonderfully fresh local ingredients, and the staff clearly explained each plate as it arrived. Service was warm and friendly, and it was lovely to meet the chef, who came over to say hello as we finished. The hotel is in a great location, and the staff were helpful and friendly, with lots of English spoken. Highly recommend.

I first visited Hotel Anaga over 25 years ago, and it’s showing its age a little now, though it’s still a fine place to stay and eat. The bay setting is lovely, with views across the water toward the bridge between Awaji and Tokushima, where whirlpools often form. There isn’t a beach, but there is a large pool that opens in summer. Some rooms in the main hotel have been refurbished and are very nice. I stayed in one of the dog-friendly “villas.” They’re spacious and have lovely views, but haven’t been refurbished and feel a bit tired. The on-site French restaurant serves excellent multi-course meals, with very good cooking and plenty of local produce. The menu changes with the seasons, though Awaji onions, famous throughout Japan, appear year-round. Service is quite formal but very good, and some staff speak English. Hotel Anaga used to belong to the Relais et Chateaux group, but no longer does. I don’t know why, but suspect they dropped it because parts of the property feel a bit tired. I hope the hotel survives, as it’s a great place in a relatively unknown part of Japan. When I arrived, the car park was full of Ferraris and Lamborghinis belonging to people who’d met there for lunch. That says something about the property!

Our one-night stay was great. Anaga Hotel was as advertised: spotless, spacious, with good amenities and a lovely patio view. The staff were professional, friendly, and very helpful. We had Kaiseki dinner and breakfast included, and both were delicious. I’m definitely planning to return in spring or summer to enjoy more of what the hotel has to offer. Highly recommended!