Amanohashidate Hotel

There’s construction in the east wing right now, and scaffolding blocked some of the views. It didn’t bother me much, and the lower price made up for it. I had a great stay otherwise: the room was clean and roomy, the onsen facilities were lovely, and breakfast was generous.

Breakfast was a highlight, with plenty of fresh local ingredients, and the spacious large public bath was lovely. I’d recommend the roomy Western-Japanese room with a view of the inner sea. The well-kept interiors gave the place a comfortable, traditional feel, and the facilities were in good shape. It’s right across from the JR train station, which is hard to beat. Hotels around here can be expensive, but I thought this one was good value. I’d stay again if I get the chance.

The location worked well for my trip by train from Kyoto. Amanohashidate Station is nearby, the viewing point is close, and the bus stop for Ine is just across the road. It’s also convenient if you need a bike: a family-run rental shop, which also has bag storage and souvenirs, is next to the hotel. There isn’t much to do around here after 16.00, though. I went to a local brewery and spent ¥7.000 on a taxi because it was so far from everything else. I also asked about dinner around 14.00 and was told the hotel was full. But when I went out at about 18.00, I saw only 5-6 people in a dining room that can seat 60-70 for breakfast. The room was spacious. The bathroom looked a little old, but everything worked, and having the WC and sink separate from the bathroom was handy for a group. The room wasn’t soundproof. Mine was on the 1st floor, and mornings could get noisy. During my stay, a C tour group was yelling and laughing loudly, even at night. Neither the staff nor the tour leader asked them to quiet down. Before checkout, I checked under the blanket for anything I might have left behind and found a clump of black hair that wasn’t mine, since my hair is brown. I’d only napped in that bed in my outside clothes and hadn’t pulled back the blanket, so I didn’t spot it until morning. The most welcoming interactions I had were mostly with the kitchen and dining staff. I went to breakfast early, and they greeted me whenever I passed the buffet, saying things like “Please eat well” and “Enjoy your meal.” The ojisan making omelettes kept greeting me each time I walked by. Breakfast itself had a great selection. I’ve been to Japan many times, and this was the worst hospitality I’ve experienced. Even small hotels in the city have been more welcoming. At check-in, they greeted me with big smiles in Japanese. When I asked if anyone spoke English, the smiles disappeared and I got attitude. In the evening I tried to rent a bike, but was told, “no bike rent, noon only”. Checkout was at 10.00. At 10.05 they were already chasing me out of the room. I wasn’t feeling well that morning, so after breakfast I explained this at the front desk. She just said I’d have to pay ¥3.500 for every 30 minutes. I understand paying for an extension, but ¥3.500 per half hour? Make it make sense. I checked out at 10.08, eight minutes late, and they clearly weren’t happy. No smile, greeting, or thank you, just coldness and attitude.

The property is beautiful, with amenities I don’t usually find in other places. Its best feature, though, is the spot right across from Amanohashidate station. There’s also a convenience store about a 2-4 minute walk away. The staff helped us get a taxi urgently, and the driver arrived within minutes. They also kept our luggage after checkout, and were happy to store it before check-in around 3PM. English was a challenge. They use a translator at reception, which works for basic communication, but when I called from my room, the guy kept saying things I couldn’t understand. I gave up, apologized, and hung up. Nobody checked back to see if I needed anything. For a foreign guest, it seemed the only way to communicate was to go all the way down to reception and use translation. Thanks for having us. I hope to come back :)