Fukiage Onsen Washu Highland Hotel

The food is what earned the two stars. The rest of the stay was very disappointing: the staff were rude, someone knocked on my room door at midnight, and the hot spring area was tiny and unclean, with dead flies.

The rooms are thoughtfully designed, and every one has a nice sea view for watching the sunrise or sunset. Very romantic. We enjoyed the buffet, especially the local dishes cooked right in front of you, and the Japanese sake selected by professionals. It was a great stop during my trip through Okayama, Shikoku, and Hiroshima, and even getting there by Shinkansen is convenient. I hope to come back with my family and share another special moment.

The open-air bath on the top floor was a highlight, with lovely views of sunrise, sunset, and the 10-kilometer Great Seto Bridge linking Honshu and Shikoku. My family was also impressed by the breakfast and dinner buffets, and we really liked how well-kept the room was. This Japanese-style resort offers excellent service, as you'd expect from Japanese hospitality. The nearby Highland Theme Park could be fun for families with kids.

We paid JPY115K for a premium room with a private onsen, and it really wasn't worth it. The room was huge, but very old, with so many doors. The private onsen tub looked old and dirty, and we had to fill it ourselves, which took more than half an hour. The view is spectrum. The website photos can't be trusted.