Hotel Shima Spain Mura

We’ve been staying at Hotel Spain Mura for over 15 years, after spending the past 20 years traveling around Japan as a family with two children. It used to be pretty good, but this visit was a letdown. The front desk staff weren’t welcoming when we checked in, and our room wasn’t clean. We also weren’t told properly how parking worked, so we had to pay until we complained and finally got the money back. We left for the Royal Daiwa Hotel on the hill by Spain Mura, which was great, cheaper, clean, and staffed by friendly people. Goodbye Hotel Spain Mura.

A nice spot for a summer holiday.

I’ve stayed several times on a plan that included Spain Village tickets and the breakfast buffet. The walkway to Spain Village is very close, and I like both the interior and the view from the window, which looks onto a courtyard. The breakfast buffet’s miso soup with aosa nori seaweed is especially good. The Ise-Shima aosa nori has a great flavor. The one nuisance is the elevator noise in rooms nearby. Its rumbling echoes often enough to get annoying.

The next morning, I took a quiet walk before the park opened and enjoyed the clean Shima air. Breakfast had lots of Japanese and Western choices, and I liked it all enough to overeat. During my solo stay, I could really relax and forget about everyday life. The room was clean, decorated in muted colors, and had a lovely view of the Shima sea and greenery. The sunset was so beautiful I found myself watching it for a while. The hotel is easy to reach by direct bus from Kintetsu Ugata Station. After about 13 minutes, the building with its Spanish-town look came into view, and I got excited for the trip. Its white walls and brick made it feel like a European resort, while the plants and fountains added to the exotic feel. Check-in went smoothly, and the staff were very friendly. The lobby was spacious and airy, with a high ceiling, and Spanish tiles and artwork throughout added to the holiday mood. I especially looked forward to dinner at Hirasol. It had an elegant, relaxing feel, and the large windows looked out on the lit-up courtyard. The course meal used plenty of fresh local ingredients, and the Ise-Shima seafood was particularly delicious. Each dish, from the appetizers through the mains and desserts, was colorful and carefully presented, and the staff were attentive. I was very satisfied. I also wanted to try Ise-Shima Onsen’s Himawari no Yu. It was easy to reach from the hotel, and the spacious bath had big windows facing the surroundings. The natural spring water felt soft and warmed me through. I enjoyed the open-air bath under the night sky, and felt the day’s fatigue melt away. There were plenty of amenities, so being able to go in empty-handed was another plus. Hotel Shima Spain Mura was a satisfying stay for its facilities, service, food, and hot springs. The staff made it feel welcoming even as a first-time visitor, and I’d come back. I’d recommend it for a visit to Shima Spain Mura, a hot spring break, a family trip, or an anniversary. I’d been curious about the place for a long time after seeing reviews and social media comments about the lively park, Ise-Shima’s nature, and the hotel’s hospitality. I finally decided to stay during a solo trip, hoping to relax.