TAOYA Minamishima

We had a wonderful sunset view and could unwind in the large public bath, which felt like it opened right onto the sea. The welcome drinks had plenty of choices, and we were able to relax. Dinner and breakfast buffets were delicious from start to finish. A male staff member named Inoue, if I’ve got his name right, was fantastic and noticed even the smallest things. I’d love to return. Thank you!

The building has been renovated recently, so it was clean, though there were a few dated spots that were still fine. Dinner was Mediterranean style with lots of seafood, especially shrimp. We waited while the paella cooked right in front of us, and there was freshly fried tempura with roasted sweet potato, aosa and shirasu, plus maitake mushrooms and thick roast beef. Thanks for the delicious curry udon, too. We used the infinity bath while it was still light. At 7:30 PM after dinner, we had it to ourselves, but it was pitch dark and the only thing visible was a distant lighthouse light.

The rooms were spacious and comfortable, and checking in early let me relax in the lounge with a draft beer while I waited for my room. Lounge seats are limited, so getting there early is a good idea. I was there on a weekday when the hotel was empty, which meant I could enjoy the meals, bath and lounge in peace. At night, the lighthouse visible from the infinity bath was lovely. The creamy curry udon at dinner is delicious and filling, so leave about half a bowl of udon for later. Getting between the annex and main building is a bit of a hassle because you have to go down to the second floor. The hotel’s nearby lot only holds about 10 cars. If you arrive late, you’ll need to use a lot facing the main street below, about a 5-minute walk away.

The buffet food was delicious, and the all-inclusive drinks included wine, though regular glasses would have been nicer than plastic or paper cups. Dinner slots are assigned first come, first served. Since we arrived after 4:30 PM, the only options left were from 8 PM onward, so families with children should check in early. We booked several rooms with friends, but I hadn’t realized which building was the annex and which was the main one, so our rooms ended up far apart. The annex rooms were fairly renovated and clean apart from the bathrooms. The Japanese-style room had new tatami but a strange smell, especially near the entrance. The twin room next door with four beds was clean and didn’t have a noticeable smell. Our sixth-floor room in the main building was Japanese-Western style with a great view, though some of the renovation choices seemed questionable. The balcony was large, but from it I could see the edge of the women’s bath diagonally below. I don’t think anyone would normally go that far because of the bath’s design, but the bath is visible from the sixth-floor balcony if you go to the tub’s shallow end. We couldn’t call the hotel directly, only Oedo Onsen’s general phone line. When we asked about the room, the main line didn’t know, and it took a day or two for the hotel to call back, which was inconvenient.