SHIROYAMA HOTEL kagoshima

The shuttle bus that offers few pick up points in the city. Amazing view of the city and the volcano from breakfast and the onsen. Spacious bedroom, that came with a 2 seater sofa and big bed, nothing like in Tokyo. Impressive breakfast spread. The changing room for the onsen was very spacious and clean. Few shops to buy food and drinks inside the hotel.

Part of the appeal in staying here was the shuttle bus which I used quite a few times. The view is incredible and kudos to the bus drivers for driving those windy roads so we'll! Unfortunately because the hotel was so busy and it's a huge hotel I didn't really feel like there were many personal touches, it did make me feel like they look after the more affluent clients. The hotel elevators were a little confusing at first but then I figured it out. The bottom floor bakery is delicious and I really loved having the family mart there too, so handy! The room I had was big enough for me but definitely on the smaller side of places I have stayed overall. Lots of amenities here and honestly a lot to do and see at the hotel, you could easily spend the day there.

Marvellous view of the city, sea, vulcan from the room. Fantastic breakfast in food quantity and quality, we ate outside on the patio of the breakfast restaurant. A lot of warm dishes, a lot of choice and also finest French patisserie. Fantastic onsen in the hotel. Fantastic nature and forest around the hotel. Very quiet at night. We used the bus coach to reach the city from the hotel, we also walked during the day through the pedestrian walk in the marvellous forest. To reach the entrance of the walk from the hotel, just follow the indication "Promenade" from the hotel: it is super easy: get out of the main entrance of the hotel, walk to the left, walk 100mt up to the kiosks selling tourist stuff, here follow indication "Promenade", it is other 70mt , and then take the path going down, it is not a road, it is very easy and very wide trail.

Japanese hospitality is usually at a different level but this hotel really brings it to another level. We were around 30 mins earlier for the check in time. All the staffs were standing by for the check-in time to start. In the usual rigid manner for hotels, they would likely just stick to their check in time. But the hotel actually changed their check in time to accommodate us (and some other guests who arrived already), so we checked in early! The onsen is also one of the best around becoz of the perfect view. The outdoor onsen faces the Sakurajima and imagine bathing in the hot bath while waiting for the sun to rise 😌 Typical Japanese hospitality meant they have a sign to tell you when the sun is rising the next morning right in front of the entrance. Didn't try the breakfast but heard that the breakfast spread was one of the best around. With ice cream btw. Due to some changes, the itinerary we booked was quite messy. Two bookings for two nights and with different room types. They weren't able to combine the bookings given the limited room available and we had to check out and check in again after one night. It was technically my own doing, but the hotel took it upon themselves to upgrade the rooms for the second night to rooms with a view of the mountain for the inconvenience caused. They even ensured that the luggages in each room moved into the respective room (not forgetting a pair of socks that might haven tested been forgotten). Lastly, one of us left some items behind. So we reached out to see if the items were found and if the hotel could send it to the next location. The response was very prompt and the items were quickly sent for courier and reached in time. The staff even called the other hotel to confirm and arrange the logistic. Amazing. What a service. No wonder the great rating!

Views from the Shiroyama are a special feature, including sunrise over Sakurajima. Our meal in the Japanese restaurant was high quality, as was the breakfast buffet. The outdoor onsen was pretty special too with more night-time views.