Yukai Resort Premium ShirahamaGyoen

Ken K9 years ago

48 hours ago we had wanted to check into Yukai's other Shirahama resort, Senjo, a place this writer has been to seven times previously. ||This is still the very busy last days of the summer season, so Senjo was fully booked. Gyoen had a few rooms available so we took one (this hotel is currently fully booked).||Hitherto, I prefer Yukai's Senjo because of its spectacular relatively high location next to Senjojiki. ||Gyoen faces the sea but the views here compared to the other place are not as good. Right in front of us, and to the right, however, there is a hotel that could very easily fit into a Harry Potter movie; I hear the lunch sets are excellent there and reasonably priced, so we might check it out tomorrow at noon.||Gyoen's pool is across the street but you don't have to worry about negotiating with the traffic because there is an underground tunnel that gets you there.||It's only open until 1700 hrs., but while we were there late this afternoon it was a pleasant experience under the gorgeous blue sky. Families and their young children enjoying themselves, plus one young couple totally into each other.||The hot spring facilities are good, as they are everywhere else I have been to in this lovely onsen resort. The sauna is old and small but was able to find adequate sweating time in there. The cold bath is parked next to the sauna so you can easily regulate your body temperature there.||The buffet dinner is your standard Yukai style; nothing worthy of Michelin stars, but perfectly adequate considering the ¥8100 you are paying for one night stay here plus 2 all-you-can-eat meals.||Just outside the hotel and to the right, about a three minute walk from here, is a supermarket where you can purchase snacks and beers, the latter being cheaper than you can buy from the vending machines here at the hotel.||Nearby Rinkaiura Beach is a nice family alternative to Shirahama's showcase beach, Shirarahama. At Rinkaiura you can still find tiny chunks of coral here and there, plus a few tropical fish like clown fish and angelfish.||Some reviewers say this hotel is old. That is true but the rooms are comfortable and the room we were assigned, 305, has a nice view facing the ocean and the Harry Potter hotel on the right.||Overall, I give this hotel four stars. You have to consider the ¥8100 price for one night's accommodation +2 full meals. You are in one of Japan's most famous onsen resorts and it has this reputation for good reason: fire, air, water, earth are in your face. ||If you are on a limited budget and want to experience the pleasures of Shirahama, try to book yourself into Yukai's Senjo resort. If that doesn't work out, and Gyoen has rooms available, go for it. ||Shirahama is arguably best in the summer because you can swim in the sea, but at the end of the day, this famous hot spring resort is good anytime of the year, rain or shine.