Hotel Harajo Shiro

The shared areas were spotless, and my room was clean and much like what you’d expect at a business hotel. Breakfast was enough for me. Masago Onsen is just a few minutes away on foot, and I’m not sure whether the two places are affiliated, but guests could bathe there for free. I was very pleased with that.

The location is handy for Hara Castle, though our summer visit was so hot that we couldn’t really enjoy the World Heritage Site properly. The inn itself was clean, and the front desk staff were courteous. Our room also came with tickets for nearby Masago Hot Springs, where we had a relaxing bath with a lovely view. We booked breakfast, and it was delicious. There was a small mix-up because the time we’d requested beforehand hadn’t been passed along correctly. The inn is tucked away at the far end of the Shimabara Peninsula, so getting there isn’t especially easy, but we had a nice stay.

The room looked even cleaner in person than it did in the photos. Both meals were delicious, with lots of ingredients from Shimabara, and I was very satisfied. They also gave guests a free ticket for a nearby hot spring. I’d like to stay again if I get the chance.

I came in from the cold and was told it was a busy day, so I should eat dinner as soon as I’d dropped my bags. I’d wanted to warm up in the hot spring or the unit bath first, which was disappointing. The supposed special New Year’s meal felt flimsy. There was boiled fish, but hardly anything to eat, and no hot pot or grilled dish. I’ve never been to a restaurant with so few dishes. Breakfast was meant to be a special menu with sashimi, but there wasn’t any sashimi either. The waitresses’ heels kept clattering, so it was hard to enjoy a peaceful meal. I’d booked six months ahead hoping to relax, but I regretted not choosing a business hotel instead and won’t come back. I could’ve used the price difference to splurge on dinner, like Shibusawa Eiichi! (lol)