Maholova Minds Miura

Pretty cool place for a reasonable price. The beach and bay views are great, especially for sunrise photos. The hotel is older but still good, and both pool areas were really fun, especially for kids. The rooms are large and suit bigger groups or multiple families, with beds in separate rooms and even a kitchen with a fridge. Breakfast had lots of good options. There isn’t much nearby, but they have a shuttle that takes you close to things. A nice affordable getaway for a group or family.

The room was much bigger than the small business hotel room we expected. It had a little kitchen, a living and dining area, a 10-tatami room, and a bedroom, though the beds were small singles. We booked it for day use through the local travel deal offered in June 2022, which required proof that we lived locally and were vaccinated. The water park was fun, and it was nice to unwind in the room before heading out. For such a good deal, it was a good day.

We had a fantastic view of Miura Beach down the hill, and the suite itself was lovely, with an "ofuro" Japanese hot bath that we used. We visited at the end of March during cherry blossom season, and the breakfast buffet included with our reservation was very nicely prepared and served. There were lots of families with kids around. The service was truly outstanding, parking was validated, and the train station was close by. I'd stay at Maholova Minds again.

Skip Hanazakura. The place has the feel of a high school cafeteria, and although the staff were nice, they seemed inexperienced and untrained. The food was bad and somewhat overpriced. The "Miura Kaisen-don" had low-quality seafood that seemed unlikely to come from near Miura, including tuna, salmon, and scallops. The chu-toro had hard, chewy veins of fat, the squid and shrimp had gone gluey, and the salmon roe had lost its pop. It all looked like it may have been assembled and plastic-wrapped a day or two earlier. Tea was hot or ice cold depending on whether the plastic teapot had been microwaved, and the kids' meal looked like it was all microwaved frozen food. The resort itself feels like a bubble-era time capsule, with attractions tucked inside a plain concrete building. That can be interesting if you're into that kind of place. The water park is a decent example of an elaborate sento, and kids may enjoy the inflatable "athletic" course in the 25m pool.