Tomonoya Hotel & Ryokan Daecheon

The room was in superb condition, but they don’t provide any services.

The meals were a nice part of the stay. At dinner, getting a window seat at high tide was especially charming, and the sunset over the water was beautiful. The menu is Japanese, though you can grill the meat on a stone plate like the one used for gyukatsu. Breakfast was Korean food and very good. They seat you when you arrive at the restaurant at the right time, and I just took the seat I was shown since the arrangement didn’t matter as much at breakfast. We packed up and checked out without any major problems. The hotel overlooks the West Sea, and navigation got us there easily. It sticks to its Japanese-style concept, with nicely decorated rooms and the option to wander around in a yukata. It’s a great place for photos, but check the tide schedule if you’re hoping for an ocean view. The heating and cooling are separate, so you can set different temperatures in the tatami room and bedroom. It’s listed for two people, with capacity up to four, but I think it suits couples better than families. My room was clean, though I’d been cautious after seeing cleanliness concerns in blog and travel agency reviews, so maybe I was lucky. There aren’t nearby entertainment options, but if you just want to relax, it’s a good place to do nothing. For photos along the west coast, you’ll need to pay attention to the high and low tides. I’d like to visit again if I get the chance.

The hinoki bath smelled lovely, and soaking in the warm water seemed to ease all the tiredness from parenting. We came with our baby, and the separate rooms made it easy to put the little one to sleep while we ate raw fish in the living room.

I know there are a lot of bad reviews, but I loved the place, and my husband keeps saying how great it was. The staff were so friendly and the service was great. Maybe they used to be a little squeamish, but everyone was incredibly kind now. It made me happy to get a taste of Japan in this part of Korea at this price.