Hoshikage Ryokan Hotel

Dinner and breakfast were both 10/10, and the whole stay was a unique experience for kids and adults alike. The room was spacious and clean. One of the best places I’ve stayed in Korea this year.

The garden outside Hoshikake Ryokan and its waterfall are magnificent, and the sound of the water is lovely. There were rickshaws, and riding one was a lot of fun. Daebyeon Port is an easy walk away, and it’s lively to watch fishermen catch anchovies during the fishing season. The anchovy wraps are tasty, too. I’d like to return with my family. They serve Kaiseki cuisine, and I remember the portions being so large I could barely finish. I’m finally writing about an earlier visit because I was watching *The Wind 2* and saw a scene with Crayon Shin-chan filmed in front of the place. I’ve visited again recently, but the cute pony that used to love carrots is gone. I thought it was adorable, so I’m sad it’s no longer there.

I regretted booking this for the whole trip. The price is far too high for what you get, and I suspect the blogs and ratings are advertisements. The reviews read like promotions. It seemed to me like a motel turned into a ryokan, with a hard, uncomfortable bed, no blackout curtains, and a view that looked like an apartment. The cypress tub had a lot of mold. Food quality was poor, especially the dinner beef, which was hard to chew. There was no room cleaning during our two-night stay, and the service was terrible. It’s also far from Busan tourist attractions. I usually don’t write reviews even when a place disappoints me, but I’m leaving this so others don’t have the experience I had.

The food and drinks were delicious, and I left feeling refreshed after a gathering here for the first time in a while. The room had a great atmosphere, and the hot springs were fantastic. There’s a set time for the water to refill, but after taking photos and looking around, it was already full. I went as the weather was starting to cool, and soaking in the hot water with the cool breeze felt so refreshing. I’ll probably bring my family next time.