Azumi Setoda

一個沒有可挑剔但沒啥可驚喜的平淡奢華酒店？

Es raro encontrar una posada donde la tarifa de alojamiento y el servicio sean tan diferentes. Sería una sorpresa que no se declarara en quiebra después de 5 años. La vista desde la habitación es lo peor. No recomiendo comer. El personal masculino es bueno, pero ¿cuál es el malentendido del personal femenino? No es un lugar para gente que conoce el valor de las cosas. Siempre tendré remordimientos.

We stayed here for 2 nights after a week of Kyoto and Kurashiki. It was a wonderful contrast in its serenity and quiet. We needed a place to rest and we had a restful stay. The staff, especially Mizukami San, were kind attentive and efficient! The food at the hotel and the next door restaurant Tantan was marvellous. The sake was some of the best we have had! And my Japanese breakfast was excellent and my husband enjoyed his western breakfast! Our room was quiet with a lovely cedar bath which I used both days! And hotel is small but lovely with a gorgeous Japanese garden. I am only giving it 4/5 because the Onsen was not in the hotel! It was half a second walk, right across the street but I can see why some people would prefer a hotel Onsen. We really enjoyed our stay! Do not forget to drink the orange juice. Delicious and a good remedy after a long night of sake drinking!

Beautiful boutique Ryokan, we loved our stay here. Everyone was so friendly, we were met off the ferry, it’s literally 5 min walk in this beautiful small town. We loved every aspect of the design and our room. The onsen was also lovely I used it every night very relaxing. But the outstanding part of the stay was the food, all seasonal it was delicious, the chef comes out and greets the guests we can’t recommend this place enough and would definitely stay again.

Japan seaside hotel 3 1/2 hours drive from Osaka Kansai airport. Azumi Setoda is a block from the Western edge of the Ikuchi island, in a meticulously converted house that belonged to a saltpan owner Horiuchi 140 years ago. The hotel is a tribute to Japanese craftsmenship, I loved everything, even the little wooden hooks in the bathroom. Food is fresh & locally sourced and served on Horiuchi family’s tableware. Azumi is in a neighborhood with cute shops & cafes, temples & caves, & the Ikuo Hirayama museum. The hotel is manned by a team that is used to dealing with international travelers, including the GM that used to work at Aman hotels, but I love how Azumi and the shops next door, SOIL Setoda as well as Overview coffee, are part of the town’s effort to revive the community that has been slowly hallowing out. The Azumi bathhouse, Yubune, is opened to the community, and guests from Azumi are given a map to encourage visits to the shops nearby. This was my first visit to the Setouchi region, and Azumi was the perfect ambassador.

There was nothing I did not love about this hotel. I suggest you come to Japan just so you can experience the Azumi Setoda. I am actually perplexed as to how there could be any negative reviews of this hotel at all. From the moment we arrived, we were graciously greeted by the hotel general manager, Yoshi. (We travelled to the Azumi Setoda by bicycle on the Shimanami Kaido bike path, which is also a wonderful experience. ) The hotel main building is the former home of a wealthy Japanese salt merchant and it has been painstakingly restored. The suites are impeccable, all in light coloured wood, with a large low bed, a huge bathroom and shower area with an exquisite wooden tub, and sliding screens that can open the area to make one large room. The bathroom and bedroom both have sliding doors that open onto a private, tiny, self-watering garden (for rooms on the main floor). It is all incredibly peaceful, with a feeling of subtle, clean, understated luxury. The spa, restored by Azumi, across the quiet street from the hotel, is the perfect place to unwind, with hot and cold tubs, sauna and steam room. Guests are encouraged to dine in the very comfortable thick cotton hotel T-shirts and pyjama pants. The hotel food is all traditional Japanese, a set menu, and served by smiling staff. It was entirely delightful. After dinner we were served tea in a gorgeous little tea room . After breakfast we took our coffee in a second floor lounge with garden views. Style and sophistication is the name of the game at Azumi Setoda. This is a perfect Japanese hotel in a lovely quiet town. Make sure you experience it!