Azuma

The fried flounder was tasty, and when I started getting tired of the single flounder sashimi near the end of the meal, the staff kindly brought out a little pot for shabu-shabu. In winter, the open-air bath could feel cold. The first bath might be warm, but unless the spring water is very hot, it seems to stay lukewarm. Laughing out there in the freezing weather could make for a good memory, though.

I ended up crying over my choice of lodging for the three-day July holiday. I'd spent days looking for a place to stay before visiting Ise Grand Shrine and then heading to Wakayama. There was no non-smoking room available, and the room didn't have its own toilet. The door creaked, and the shared toilet smelled faintly of ammonia. It's old, so I tried to accept that. I'd hoped to see the ocean from the window, but, well, that didn't happen. At least I was looking forward to dinner. The sea bream sashimi was delicious, but the rest disappointed me, especially the boiled fish. It tasted as if it had been cooked the day before and reheated. In that heat, I wished there had been a kettle of cold water in the room. I was thirsty and went to the vending machine, but it was pitch black outside. Even a motion-sensor light would have helped. I gave up on breakfast and left for Wakayama disappointed.

I had a relaxing stay, and the food was outstanding. The spiny lobster, boiled fish, sashimi, wagyu beef, and everything else tasted great. One small concern: after drinking the coffee in my room, I checked the package and saw the expiry date was February 2024, more than a year earlier. It was vacuum-packed, so I think it was probably fine, but I'd like the inn to check these regularly. Getting there was difficult because my car navigation may have led me onto a road through the old town that was only wide enough for one car. It was a tough 500m drive to the inn. On the way out the next day, staff showed me a wider alternative route home.

We had the corner room, Room Fuji, on the third floor, with an ocean view. The Airdog was a nice surprise, and having an expensive air purifier in the room made it very comfortable. If a view matters, check the room details carefully when booking. I always pay extra to guarantee one. Check-in is at 3 PM. We arrived around 2:50 PM, and the dark, empty reception area wasn't ready, even though early arrivals are to be expected. Someone soon came out and said they'd take our names even though check-in hadn't started yet. We gave ours and were called in first, so it seems smart to give your name as soon as you arrive. Only one group can check in at a time. We knew from the original description that there was no elevator, but with all our suitcases we had to carry everything ourselves. That's a minus one star. Staff escorted us to the room, and I wish they'd offered to help with even one small bag. We chose the private open-air cypress bath and got to use it first. It felt great, though the indoor bath was a bit small. The meal was mostly fish, and the sashimi was delicious. They could have had cold tea available. Coca-Cola was their only carbonated soft drink, and they were out of it on a busy Saturday. That's something they need to improve. The staff member was friendly and explained the dishes well. There's not much around, so you can take your time with the bath and meals and relax in your room. A stay like this can be nice.