Kur & Hotel Suruga

For the price, I think this place is a good deal. I had a massage here once, and the male masseuse did a great job. We had a friendly conversation in Japanese. I come to this bath house every couple of years while visiting people I know in Shizuoka, and I always enjoy it. There are lots of baths and a couple of different saunas. I've come to like sitting in the cold bath, which is 16 degrees C, until my heart rate slows a little and I don't feel so uncomfortable. Then I get out, rest a few minutes, and return to a hot bath. I've found it really helps relax tense muscles.

I could see the ocean from the hotel, and on a clear day even Mount Fuji, which was beyond what I expected. My room was small but fine for one person, and the service was really good. The staff didn't speak English at all, though, so communicating through translation apps was a bit tricky, haha. I booked a single room for a business trip of about two weeks. At first I was surprised there was no bathroom, just a bidet and washbasin. The onsen on the second floor can be used for bathing, but I couldn't go in while on my period. They kindly made an exception and let me use a room with its own bathroom until my period was over. I really appreciated that. I had a great trip here!

The view is awesome, and the restaurant, arcade room, and other services are great. My one issue was that I wasn't allowed into the onsen because of a small tattoo, about the size of a birthmark. The receptionist said hiding it wouldn't make a difference, so I skipped the bath. When I went to my room, I found there was no shower. The same receptionist said I could upgrade to a room with one, but it would cost extra, extra, extra 💴. I understand they have rules, but if they're not flexible for tourists and younger Japanese people who like tattoos, they'll lose customers. I wasn't asking for much, just a shower, please!!!

I came here during Golden Week because it was one of the last places available for under 20,000 yen near where I wanted to go. It became one of my favourite parts of the trip. As a budget traveller, I thought it was one of the best hotel stays I've had. It's a bit far from the station and seems set up as a roadside stop for people travelling by car, but I still think it's worth trying. The outdoor onsen on the women's side was my favourite, with a view of the ocean and a bit of Mt. Fuji. There are lots of baths with different temperatures and water types. There's also a mixed-gender bathing area where you need a swimsuit. It seemed mostly aimed at kids and families, and I could see a water slide in there, which made me jealous. Towels, shampoo, soap, and even skincare are supplied, so you can arrive empty-handed. My room was smaller than usual, but they let me check out at 12PM. It felt like a typical, slightly dated business hotel room. People recommend an ocean-side room over a mountain-side one to cut down on highway traffic noise. Besides the onsen, there's an arcade, a nice souvenir shop, several restaurants, and relaxation services like massages and salt scrubs. I thought the food was quite good for a budget hotel, and the top-floor restaurant has a beautiful view. The interior is dated, like the rooms, but clean. A wrist strap lets you scan and pay around the hotel, so you don't have to carry a wallet. You're charged at checkout. It's in a quiet, non-touristy part of a small town, so there's not much nearby. Even the closest conbini is quite a walk, with a highway crossing on the way. I was happy to spend my time at the hotel. There's a nearby beach with a view of Mt. Fuji. It's a little deserted and mostly has fishers in the morning, but I recommend watching the sunset there. You can walk from the parking lot at the back. There's also a short hiking path nearby called the "Satta pass," with another beautiful and unusual Fuji view. Hotels like this are all over Japan, but I'd return to this area just for this one, lol. It seems well known to locals and other Japanese visitors, though I didn't see many foreigners, even with signs and things in English. I got to properly relax here ^_^