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Bath-Proud Inns: Kinki Part 1
The three main elements of a ryokan or hotel are facilities, food, and service. In addition to these, what makes a Japanese inn many times more appealing are the hot springs and baths.
In this coming season, soaking in a famous hot spring will relax your mind and body and wash away the fatigue of the year. In this 10th installment, we will introduce inns in Mie and Wakayama prefectures as "Bath-Proud Inns: Kinki Edition 1."
INDEX
"So comfortable you'll forget to go home" - Hotel Urashima's large cave bath
The natural cave hot spring that captivated the head of the Kishu Tokugawa clan
Boukido Cave
Hotel Urashima in Nanki Katsuura Onsen, stands on a cape facing the sea on three sides. It has five large public baths in four buildings - the main building, Yamagami building, Nissho building, and Nagisa building - and is so attractive that it is impossible to explore them all in a one-day stay.
The large cavern bath, "Boukido," is a hot spring that bubbles up inside a natural cave and forms a pool of hot water, which has been used as a bathing spot since ancient times. After the inn began operating in the Taisho era, Tokugawa Yorimichi, the 15th head of the Kishu Tokugawa clan, visited the area and commented that it was "so comfortable that you forget to go home," and so the bath was given this name. Don't miss the spectacular view of the ocean right up close.
Genbudo: A natural cave bath where you can experience nature as it is
In addition to another natural cave bath, "Genbudo," the facility also has "Taki no Yu," "Hamayu no Yu," and "Iso no Yu." You can enjoy a wide variety of hot springs.
About Hot Springs
・Spring quality: Sulfur-containing sodium calcium chloride spring (weak alkaline hypotonic high temperature spring)
・Features: The name Boukido was given to the cave by Tokugawa Yorimichi, the lord of the Kishu domain, as a compliment that it was so beautiful it made him forget to go home.
・Effects: neuritis, muscle pain, arthritis, frozen shoulder, motor paralysis, bruises, cuts, burns, chronic digestive diseases, hemorrhoids, poor circulation, fatigue recovery, chronic skin diseases, chronic gynecological diseases, diabetes
Food is also plentiful! Local Kumano flavors at a buffet
The most reasonably priced room with a panoramic view of Katsuura town and Katsuura Bay. [Main building] Japanese-style room
In July, the menu offered at the buffet restaurant was renewed as "Kumano cuisine," offering about 60 different dishes, mainly seafood and mountain produce from the Kumano region and the Kumano Sea.
Breakfast buffet
Dinner buffet
Hotel Urashima
【basic information】
Address: 1165-2 Katsuura, Nachikatsuura-cho, Higashimuro-gun, Wakayama Prefecture
・Telephone number: 0735-52-1011
・Building: Reinforced concrete (Main building: 7 floors / Nagisa building: 7 floors / Nissho building: 8 floors / Yamagami building: 5 floors)
・Guest rooms: 365 in total (Japanese-style rooms: 266 / Western-style rooms: 69 / Japanese-Western style rooms: 30 / Rooms with open-air baths: 2)
・Minimum accommodation fee: 16,500 yen (tax included)
・Parking: 400 spaces 【Meals】
・Dinner: Buffet ・Breakfast: Buffet 【Services and Facilities】
・Day trip bathing, open for lunch
Enjoy the ocean view from three different large baths! "Toba Seaside Hotel"
Three large baths overlooking the ever-changing scenery of Toba Bay
Evening view of "Kazami no Yu" / "Kazami no Yu" is popular for its open-air bath with a sense of freedom
Toba Seaside Hotel is a hot spring resort hotel that boasts "100 Sea Views Around the Baths." From the three large public baths with different styles, you can enjoy the ocean view of Toba Bay that changes with the hour.
The "Kazami no Yu" on the 6th floor of the Boukan building is popular for its open-air bath, which is filled with a sense of openness. The baths are a rock bath, a cypress bath, and a tub bath.
"Misaki no Yu" is located on the first floor of Misakitei, and you can enjoy the sounds of the ocean and waves as you bathe in the open-air bath. The wooden deck where you can relax after your bath is also very comfortable.
"Tei no Yu" with fully equipped spa facilities
"Miginoyu" on the third floor of the Migiwa Building is fully equipped with spa facilities to soothe the body and mind, including a jacuzzi, sauna, and reclining bath. Free massage equipment is available in the post-bath salon.
In addition, we offer five private family baths and foot baths overlooking the sea, including one with a barrier-free design.
About Hot Springs
・Spring quality: Sakakibara Onsen "Nanakuri no Yu" alkaline simple spring ・Characteristics: Leaves your skin smooth and silky after bathing ・Effects: Muscle pain, joint pain, poor circulation, fatigue recovery, health promotion
Kaiseki cuisine made with an abundance of Toba's seafood
Kaiseki cuisine made with an abundance of Toba's seafood
There are a total of 206 guest rooms, including Japanese-style rooms and Japanese-Western style rooms, including rooms with open-air baths. The Japanese and Western buffet with about 50 different dishes and the banquet cuisine filled with Toba's seafood are popular.
Toba Seaside Hotel
【basic information】
Address: 1084 Arashimacho, Toba City, Mie Prefecture
・Telephone number: 0599-25-5151
・Building: Reinforced concrete (Bokukan: 6-11 floors / Misakitei: 1-6 floors / Minamikan: 3-14 floors)
・Guest rooms: 206 in total (Japanese-style rooms: 189 / Western-style rooms: 3 / Japanese-Western style rooms: 5 / Rooms with open-air baths: 9)
・Bath areas: large public bath, open-air bath, private bath, sauna (steam)
・Minimum accommodation fee: From 17,600 yen (tax included)
・Parking: 200 spaces 【Meals】
・Dinner: Kaiseki cuisine, buffet ・Breakfast: Japanese cuisine, buffet 【Services and Facilities】
・Day trip bathing