A Castle-Like Hotel in Shirahama: Staying at Hotel Kawakyu
We took a road trip almost all the way around Wakayama without even booking a hotel.
As the evening approached, I remembered—wasn’t there a castle-looking hotel somewhere?
So I quickly made a same-day reservation and we headed to Hotel Kawakyu.
Following the GPS through the somewhat cluttered roads of Shirahama, we turned into a narrow lane and—BAM! A giant castle appeared out of nowhere.
At first glance, maybe due to the lighting (or my bad eyesight), it looked like a flashy theme park or a luxurious love hotel.
But up close... it was massive.
So big, I had to tilt my head way back just to take it all in. It really was a castle!
Stepping inside, I involuntarily let out a "Wow!"—the kind tourists blurt when entering a royal palace.
Gold everywhere. Vaulted ceilings. Jaw-dropping decor.
I couldn’t stop saying “Amazing!” over and over again. The staff just smiled knowingly—clearly, I wasn’t the first.
Welcome Drink & Exploring the Room
After check-in, we were guided to the lounge and offered a welcome drink.
There was sake, whisky, and of course, umeshu—plum wine—a Wakayama specialty.
With some light snacks, we sipped our drinks and relaxed after the long drive.
Honestly, I could've stayed there longer, but I was too curious about the room and the baths to sit still.
Everywhere I looked was picture-worthy.
I was too excited to worry about looking like a tourist—I was taking photos nonstop.
We didn’t go all-out with a Royal Suite (those are seriously pricey!).
Instead, we chose the more budget-friendly "Kawakyu Suite"—a Japanese-Western style room.
The suite was around 80–90 m² with a twin bedroom, a 10-tatami Japanese room, a 4-tatami corner, bathroom, and toilet.
It was about the size of my apartment back home!
From the room, we had a beautiful view of the sea.
The sun was just beginning to set—such a serene scene over the waters of Wakayama.
On the way to explore the baths, I grabbed my toiletries in a Chicken Ramen eco bag...
Not exactly luxury vibes, but it looked oddly cute and kind of made me laugh.
The game room had darts and table tennis, but no one was using them.
Maybe high-end hotel guests don’t go for that kind of fun? Or maybe I’m just too down-to-earth!
The lounge where we had our welcome drink looked stunning from the upper floor too.
Luxury Onsen Time at ROYAL SPA
The spa I was so looking forward to… no, not just a spa—**ROYAL SPA**.
Hotel Kawakyu has two different spa areas that alternate by gender each day.
Royal Spa: Yūkyū no Mori (The Eternal Forest)
This tranquil retreat is tucked away in a lush green forest setting.
The indoor bath is made from sacred Kōyamaki wood (Japanese umbrella pine) from Mt. Koya.
A mural by artist Reizo Aoyama depicts immortals, accompanied by classical Chinese poetry said to symbolize longevity.
It was such a calm, mystical atmosphere—I felt like I was bathing in serenity.
The open-air bath was beautifully designed with both Japanese and Western touches.
Looking up, I could see the castle-like exterior walls of the hotel and the open sky. It felt like a hidden hot spring in an ancient European fortress.
Birds chirped in the nearby trees, and I was completely immersed in this dreamlike setting.
There was also a tiny fairytale-style sauna cabin near the bath, though unfortunately it was still under preparation and not open yet.
Still, there were plenty of lounge beds for ultimate relaxation. Just imagining a cycle of sauna → cold bath → rest made me feel "totonou" (completely refreshed).
ROYAL SPA – Ocean View Infinity Onsen
This other spa area is absolutely stunning—honestly, this was my favorite!
At night, it's reserved for men; in the morning, for women.
(Please… make this accessible to both genders at night too!)
The open-air bath felt like an infinity pool cut out of a painting.
Whether lounging on a deck chair or soaking in the bath, the view of the ocean was breathtaking.
And then… the royal “Living Spa” lounge.
There was even a self-loyly sauna! After a cold dip, you could rest by the fireplace wrapped in a bathrobe. It was pure bliss.
Hot Spring Details
- Spring Name: Kakidani
- Source Temperature: 64.2°C
- Type: Sodium - Chloride - Bicarbonate spring
- Appearance: Clear, colorless
- Health Benefits: Wounds, burns, skin irritation, rheumatic conditions, motor disorders, chronic eczema, women’s health issues, menopause, neuralgia
Exquisite Dinner Buffet & Wine Heaven
Dinner was served buffet-style, but don’t underestimate it—it was phenomenal.
We had our meal in the main dining room "Azure." From the decor to the lighting and layout, it felt like dining in a European palace.
There was a wide variety of options including Japanese, Western, and Chinese cuisine, each meticulously crafted.
Sashimi, sushi, grilled meats, pasta, dim sum… and the freshness and quality of everything was on point!
Especially noteworthy was the wine.
Hotel Kawakyu has its own wine cave (yes, really!), and the buffet featured a "free-flow wine tasting" with select wines.
You could enjoy premium reds, whites, and rosés as much as you wanted. A wine lover’s dream!
The wine cave itself is worth visiting—it’s beautifully lit and filled with elegant bottles.
Even just strolling through it with a glass in hand makes for a magical experience.
Seafood Lovers Rejoice!
The seafood spread was jaw-dropping.
From shrimp and squid to various kinds of sashimi, everything was incredibly fresh.
And the sushi chefs were right there making sushi to order.
It was like enjoying a high-end sushi bar—without the price tag.
Room for Dessert?
If you still had room, the dessert station had a selection of cakes, tarts, fruit, and soft-serve ice cream.
My personal favorite? The fruit tarts—especially the peach one!
Overall, this dinner buffet felt like an all-you-can-eat trip through a gourmet magazine spread.
I would honestly come back to Hotel Kawakyu just for this dinner alone.