Watarase Onsen Hotel Yamayuri

“Traditional Japanese obsen”

Conveniently located near the Hongu shrine. This is a hotel complex with attached onsen. The hotel was very modern, with clean and functional rooms. We had a family room. It had 2 twin western beds with a separate tatami room attached. The hotel bedrooms were located a short walk from the main… lisää

Conveniently located near the Hongu shrine. This is a hotel complex with attached onsen. The hotel was very modern, with clean and functional rooms. We had a family room. It had 2 twin western beds with a separate tatami room attached. The hotel bedrooms were located a short walk from the main part of hotel where the reception and a little shop were located. The onsen was a further (short) walk away. There were public onsens and 5 private / family onsen. The food (dinner and breakfast) was included in the price - and was incredible. Everything was delicious and beautifully presented. Also, the hotel included a taxi transfer back to Tanabe city train station and a pick up from Hongu shrine. This was a really relaxing place.

vähemmän

“Good private onsen”

It was our last stop of the Kumanokodo hiking. We went to Kumano Hongu and asked the information counter to help us call the hotel. They sent a van to pick us up. Our luggage had been sent there. There are three hotels at Watarase Onsen. We chose Hotel Himeyuri where the rooms are bigger with a sep… lisää

It was our last stop of the Kumanokodo hiking. We went to Kumano Hongu and asked the information counter to help us call the hotel. They sent a van to pick us up. Our luggage had been sent there. There are three hotels at Watarase Onsen. We chose Hotel Himeyuri where the rooms are bigger with a separate tatami seating area. Our dinner and breakfast were served at Hotel Yamayuri. Both the meals were scrumptious. The onsen is an attraction of Watarase. It has the biggest outdoor onsen in Kansai area. Besides, there are four private outdoor onsen. If it is not occupied, you can simply go in and there is no time limit. The next day, we took the hotel shuttle to Shirahama where we took the JR back to Osaka.

vähemmän

“Affordable luxuary”

This is a review of Yamayuri which is the mid-range option among the three onsen hotel in Watarase. While a typical onsen resort, Yamayuri is an affordable choice to enjoy the luxuary of staying at a Japanese onsen hotel. This is not a ryokan, which is mostly a family owned smaller operation. T… lisää

This is a review of Yamayuri which is the mid-range option among the three onsen hotel in Watarase. While a typical onsen resort, Yamayuri is an affordable choice to enjoy the luxuary of staying at a Japanese onsen hotel. This is not a ryokan, which is mostly a family owned smaller operation. The latter typically offers more intimate services including have your meals at your room. But a roykan stay usually costs more and the the hardware may not be as good as a corporate hotel. That said, you are still going to have a Kaiseki meal if you choose such a plan at Yamayuri, but you will have come down to the dining hall to have your meal. The food is good and tasty but not extraordinary. The service is dedicated but again not at the same level as at a ryokan. Watarase is not a 1st tier onsen location in Japan. The public baths shared by Yamayuri and Himeyuri were not crowded even during the high season I visited. There are four semi open-air bathrooms you can check in and lock for your family. They are again, usually available. This is another nice point about this hotel. Pros: affordable and nice scenary, onsen quality is pretty good. Cons: transportation link, WIFI connections and confusing booking system

vähemmän

“Authentic Japanese experience”

Stayed here for just one night as our starting point in our Kumano Kodo walk. The service was excellent and our dinner and breakfast dishes were all delicious. No showers in the rooms so you must go to their private onsen located just beside the hotel to take a bath. Should have rated this 5 stars… lisää

Stayed here for just one night as our starting point in our Kumano Kodo walk. The service was excellent and our dinner and breakfast dishes were all delicious. No showers in the rooms so you must go to their private onsen located just beside the hotel to take a bath. Should have rated this 5 stars but deducted 1 star because their smoking room, located beside the main entrance and near the reception counter, was just a small walled cubicle with no ceiling. When someone lights up the smoke spreads throughout the area.

vähemmän