Ofunato Onsen

I stayed here once two years ago, and this was my second visit. Taking advantage of a short adults-only spring break, we came to Ofunato Onsen. Unfortunately, the sky was overcast and we couldn’t enjoy a beautiful blue sky, but we were very satisfied with our stay—the hospitality did not disappoint, from the open-air bath enjoyed while listening to black-tailed gulls and the sound of the waves, to the hearty dinner that arrived one dish after another.This time I gave 4 stars for the Room and amenities because when we arrived, the futons had already been laid out, leaving no space to relax comfortably at first. Last time we stayed in a room with beds so I didn’t notice it then, but having a place to sit back with some tea and unwind also feels important. I’d be happy if you could simply keep in mind that some guests prefer that kind of stay.That said, spring is all about seaweed—wakame and kombu—and it felt like my stomach got a refreshing reset. We usually like trying different Accommodations so we don’t often stay at the same place twice, but Ofunato Onsen is an Accommodation I’d recommend to others and one we’d happily return to again and again—so we’d love to visit in another season as well.

Both dinner and breakfast were delicious and served in such generous portions that we couldn’t finish them, so we were very satisfied. The service was polite and made us feel comfortable. It was a little disappointing that it was cloudy in the morning. Next time, we’d like to come back on a sunny day for a retry.