Hotel Royal Chihpen

The gender-separated public hot springs were great, and we had a very relaxing stay. The rooms have been tastefully refurbished, though the outside of the hotel and the common areas look very dated. What really disappointed us was the rabbit cage on the property. It seemed poorly maintained, and the rabbits plainly weren’t being cared for properly. They had holes in their ears, possibly from being housed with birds, which shouldn’t share a cage with rabbits. Some were eating their own droppings and had bird droppings on them. My daughter was very upset. When I raised this with the front desk, they brushed us off. I looked into it later and found animal rights groups had raised concerns over the past three years, but hotel management had made no effort to improve the situation. That’s a real letdown and doesn’t befit a five-star hotel.

The pool is great, and the hot spring water was at a really nice temperature, though the area needs a thorough clean and doesn’t feel five-star. The place still has some comfort, but to me it seems past its former glory, more like a four-star stay now. Breakfast was disappointing. It was crowded, and my seat was in an area with little air conditioning. The croissants were just average, the watermelon had a powdery texture, the Yakut wasn’t warm, and the scrambled eggs were dry. There weren’t many Western choices.

We checked in at Hotel Royal Chihpen after 5 pm on December 24, 2025, and Santa Claus greeted us with a 6.0 earthquake. It all happened so quickly and was confusing, but there was no damage, and we still got to enjoy the folk dance at the hotel.

The room and outdoor spa were my favorite parts. I really liked the different hot spring scents, including lavender, rose, herbal and others. The staff were very friendly, and the service was amazing. The buffet was good for the price, and the outdoor activities were a fun bonus. I loved the hotel and all the activities included.