Sanyoso Hot Spring and Hotel

A little more expensive than usual but a great location, great big bath, and a really great (and large) seafood dinner.

26/9/2019

Sanyo-so is a very large hotel complex in an oddly out of the way place. They were expensive (as warned by a fellow pilgrim). The building my room was in was a separate construction (room 2-301) to the main entrance building but all the separate buildings appear to be joined into one complex by stand alone corridors or covered walkways. The corridor from my building to the main building was lined with shelves displaying local historical or religious items, while the opposite wall had windows with a view of the garden.

The hotel seemed to be very strict on their "no tattoos" rule.

Rooms:

I had a western style room towards the back of the hotel complex. It had no views as such. I believe there are nicer rooms of western or Japanese style for a commensurate price increase. It had a private bathroom and was clean. It was a typical western style hotel room bigger than would be found, for instance, in a business hotel.

Food:

Both evening and morning meals were provided with personalised name tags in the common dining room. The dining room is large but is packed full of tables and chairs to allow for a large number of guests. It would be crowded with guests at peak times but was a good amount of spacing between guest during my visit (even pre-covid). Standard style Japanese meals were provided (see photos)

Onsen:

Their onsen, while fine, was not as good as other cheaper ones I visited. The indoor section contained a large square pool. The outdoor section was small, so only one gender can use it, which swaps each day. The evening I visited was females only, so I never got to sample it.

Other Facilities:

There is a foot bath, free to use by Ohenro, to the left of the main entrance. Don't sit on the table (like I did, see below!) A souvenir/religious paraphernalia shop is located near the reception desk.

---oooOOOooo---

I walked back to Sanyo-so but I really was knackered, so despite being warned about the price I went in to see if they had any rooms. Which they did. Even at the quoted 9800 Yen I took it. It was still too early to book in so I went out to the free foot spa which a Japanese Ohenro I had walked with had pointed out earlier.

When I put my feet in the water it was a bit surprising because the water was pretty warm, like a hot bath would be. Of course I buggered up straight away because I sat on the raised wooden platform over the centre of the pool with my feet dangling in the water. Turns out the raised platform is actually the table and you are supposed to sit on the edge of the pool using the table as a proper table, not put your bum on it as the receptionist quickly came out and told me! The water itself was a little brown like tea and so I wasn't sure if it was really meant to be like that or not. To be on the safe side I washed my feet carefully afterwards in my room.

At breakfast there was an older lady Henro who finished before me and came over, striking up a conversation by asking where I was from. I had seen her the previous day as I was checking in. At that time she had asked if I was on my way to the temple but I replied I had already been. She left on her way before seven.

9 photos submitted