Hotel 2-Star di Wakayama Prefecture, Japan

Arrive at JR Shirahama Station and then transfer to the taxi for about 4 minutes. It is very close to Toretore market and can be reached on foot. The rooms are panda-shaped and spacious inside. Dinner and breakfast are buffet style 

We stayed in this lovely family hotel for a night, we opted for room stay with dinner and breakfast. There's no shops or restaurant near by, so highly suggest to choose the stay with meals option, otherwise there's cooking facility within the room also, so I think it's possible to cook your own meal if necessary. Location - the hotel is just round the corner of the famous Shirasaki Ocean Park, we even had a good view of the park from our room. There's parking space right in front of the hotel building, so it's very handy. We cycled to the Shirasaki Ocean Park then to the hotel, so it worked out perfect. There's a very steep slop going up to the hotel though, but it wasn't an issue for us as we pushed out bikes up. Facilities - this is a family run hotel which believes was built a while ago, so can't compare it to all those new built hotels. The ”room” we stayed is more like a mini flat, it has a big kitchen, good sized bathroom with changing area, a separate toilet, a living room, bedroom and an extra ”sitting” area. The entire flat is in traditional Japanese style which we loved, and it has all facilities that made our stay comfortable. It also has coined washing machine and driers. We could even access to rooftop on the 4th floor to view the sunset. If you're looking for a quiet place to have quality time, then this is a good place to do so. There's also ”public bath” within the hotel, it's small but wasn't an issue for us. There's also shower and bath in the room also if you want some privacy. Food - all food was cooked and prepared by the hotel owner, and she's a talented chef! Dinner was impressive, breakfast was standard. The hotel owner is very friendly and lovely, it's definitely ”the place” to stay if you're visiting the area. We highly recommend it.

The location is very close to Okunoin Cemetery, so you could take an evening walk and easily return before the doors close at 9 PM. It felt safe and convenient, and the atmosphere in the evening was beautiful. The bus runs frequently, so getting to the station the next day was no problem at all. The temple offers a Goma (fire) ritual in the afternoon, and one prayer stick is included. The morning meditation was also a wonderful experience, very impressive. The staff were genuinely positive, friendly and helpful. Some of them speak very good English, they explain everything clearly, and they let me leave my luggage when I arrived early. I highly recommend this place, but a few practical things worth mentioning: – The stairs to the guest rooms are very steep, and the temple slippers are slippery. If you have trouble with stairs or simply want to avoid the risk, I recommend asking for a room on the first floor. – I visited in early December, and it was really (really!) cold as the corridors are unheated. You absolutely need very warm socks for meditation and the fire ritual. I was completely frozen. – My room took a long time to warm up, but the kotatsu made a huge difference once it heated up, and there was also a gas heater + a tea set with hot water. – Having a sink in the room was a very convenient bonus, but the water in mine was cold though. In the bathroom hot water is available.

I loved my stay, and was surprised by this property only being rated with a 7 because for such a low price in that area is amazing. According to what I've read, there's some things that have changed in comparison to previous years such as automated check-in/check-out (be aware that if you have any issue during check-in immediately the hotel stuff will call you to the phone on the desk behind you... it took me a while to realize that the call was for me :D ), there's an onsen now at the property at the 3rd floor, and there's no food service anymore. Laundry is free (both waschmachine and dryer). I was positively surprised!

We had an amazing stay at Bakery Hotel Shirahama. The hotel was extremely clean and well maintained, and every corner felt cozy and welcoming. The location is excellent, very convenient and close to everything we needed, yet still peaceful and relaxing. The staff were incredibly kind, polite, and helpful throughout our stay. You can really feel the Japanese hospitality here. The amenities were well prepared and thoughtfully provided, making our stay very comfortable. And of course, the bakery theme is such a lovely touch everything felt warm, cute, and unique. Overall, this place exceeded our expectations, and we would definitely stay here again. Highly recommended for a trip with friends!

Location 10/10: in close proximity to the railway station, bus station convenience store. They have parking spaces, for cars and bikes. also kind of close to the town center, where the restaurants are and the store are. Staff 10/10: friendly and welcoming, tried their best to explain the how things works. facilities Basic facilities, toilets are abundant, clean. Sinks are clean. individual room, with AC, and TV, there's a drying wire in the room, where you can pull out a nylon wire to the other side of the wall and hang your towels or clothing. there's an actual onsen, very cool, although, in my opinion, it closes fairly early, travellers should plan ahead when they want to try it out.

The hot springs are a bit dated and didn't seem very clean. The toilets were across from our second-floor room, and as soon as we got there, we could smell a strong urine odor. The cleanliness needs to be improved. I came here specifically for the food, which was absolutely delicious. It was definitely worth it. I give it a 120. They put a lot of thought into the preparation, and the portions were generous. It was like a truly luxurious set menu! The service was also very good. I just hope the cleanliness could be improved...

Very clean, sleeping on a futon is very comfortable, good blanket Keep in mind that the bathroom is open from 16:30 to 21:00, there is no morning bath! The last entrance to the temple also closes at 21:00 Breakfast is vegetarian, light It is advisable to attend the service, to show respect and gratitude to the temple A bus stop is a few minutes away, you can get to the cemetery or other points Very calm and peaceful

The hotel is very nice and still feels brand new, with a great location close to Kii-Tanabe Station. The staff were friendly, the check-in process was fast, and the room was very clean and comfortable. The laundry facilities, ice machine, and vending machines were all excellent. We also appreciated the free breakfast and complimentary coffee/tea in the afternoon. This hotel is highly recommended and perfect as a starting point for the Kumano Kodo journey. One suggestion would be to offer breakfast earlier or provide breakfast boxes for hikers starting early in the morning. Highly recommended, and we would definitely stay here again.

Here’s a polished review you can use: --- The room is clean, cozy, and quiet — perfect for a relaxing stay. The bed is very comfortable, and the air conditioner works great with options for both cooling and heating. I especially enjoyed the bathtub, which was really nice. The staff are very helpful and speak good English, making check-in and communication smooth. A simple breakfast of toast and coffee is included, like the orange jam! The location is convenient, just a short walking distance from the main train station, and there’s even a free foot spa nearby — a lovely bonus! Overall, a very pleasant stay. Highly recommended.