onomichi club

The breakfast and restaurant service were real highlights. The food used excellent produce, the menu changed nicely over a multi-day stay, and the staff were thoughtful and attentive. The room was spacious by Japanese hotel standards and had a modern design, aside from the bathroom. From the room, the ocean and part of Onomichi look beautiful. There’s a lot to like, though some details need attention. Getting around takes effort. The hotel sits on a mountain, with a steep climb to and from town. Finding a taxi willing to drive up can be difficult. The ropeway is probably useful for stays longer than a day, but it gets crowded on weekends and at peak times, especially going up, so returning to your room can take a while. The economy twin’s bathroom smelled unpleasantly of sewage, and its ventilation fan had a layer of dust. For me, that bathroom was below the standard of even a budget business hotel I’ve stayed in at a third of the price. The hotel Wi-Fi was also rather slow, as other reviews have mentioned. The wooden bench by the window wasn’t comfortable or practical, either. It could be noisy in the room. The wooden floors make footsteps loud, and since rooms connect directly, you may hear people walking in the room next door, though it wasn’t too bad. Even with these drawbacks, I still think it’s a nice place to stay, hence the 4/5 rating.

We spent three nights here this week and had a wonderful time. The restaurant even put together a whole vegetarian menu for us, which was amazing. Everyone on staff was friendly and made a real effort to speak English. Our room was huge with an unbeatable view, and the bath was outstanding. The lobby was lovely and so calming. I’d recommend it without hesitation and hope to come back.

We loved that there wasn’t a TV; it made the stay feel like a proper escape. The setting was peaceful, the staff were friendly, and the coffee was great. The views are exceptional, and the hotel is near Senko-ji Temple. Don’t miss the rooftop bar for stargazing over Onomichi. We’ll stay here again if we come back.

The onsen brought down my impression of the stay. It badly needs renovation, and stepping into the hot spring felt like being transported to a hotel from the previous century. That seems especially relevant since some rooms are offered without bathrooms. The rest was lovely: a beautiful, relaxing view, a convenient location, and friendly, helpful staff. The drip coffee was really tasty, which is unusual in Japan, and I’d strongly recommend the high-quality breakfast made with local ingredients. Every bowl was full of flavor.