Tsushima Grand Hotel

My stay at the Tsushima Grand Hotel was a delightful experience. The room I stayed in was not only spacious and immaculately clean but also offered a stunning view of the ocean, perfect for watching the sunrise. While the meals served at the hotel were tasty, I found the dinner portions to be quite large, more than I could comfortably finish. A highlight of my stay was the onsen, which provided a relaxing experience each night, complemented by a beautiful outdoor view. The staff were exceptionally helpful, and one of the restaurant staff, who was fluent in English, shared entertaining stories that added a personal touch to my dining experience.

This accommodation exceeded our expectations. The rooms were well furnished, the beds were comfortable, and the bathrooms were very clean. We had a see-facing room, and the view of the sunrise each morning was amazing! One suggestion would be to maybe have a USB charger and coffee available for guests, but these are things I have noticed missing at most Japanese hotels and guest houses. The restaurant downstairs was one of the highlights of this place. The food is delicious! For dinner we had transitional Kanseki meals (which consist of various courses of Japanese delicacies like sushi, tempura, etc) The breakfast was also a traditional Japanese one, with fish, miso soup and other savoury food. Delicious, and a great start to the day. Definitely worth it! The onsen on the first floor was also great. The onsen is basic but contains everything that one needs after a long day of sightseeing and travelling. The water is thermally heated and is said to benefit healthy skin. They didn't have a cold bath on the women's side when I went, but I heard that the men's side had one and a sauna. I’m unsure if they swap the sides around every few days.

Tsushima Grand Hotel is typical of a mid-range resort hotel in remote parts of the country. It has 50 rooms, caters largely to domestic tourists, and was probably built during the pre-bubble years and maintenance levels have not kept up with the wear and tear that comes with the inevitable aging of such a property. First off, if you're going to do any touring of Tsushima, you are strongly advised to rent a car. Budget Rent A Car (among others) have operations here, and they'll greet you either at the airport or one of the Ferry terminals with your car in hand. The island is large and rugged, and buses are few and far in between. Perhaps you're just here to relax and unwind - in this case, please look elsewhere. There is no luxury resort on the island. You need to either be a history buff (Tsushima has a very long and dramatic history), a lover of rare animals (the Tsushima Wildlife Conservation Center has a resident Tsushima Leopard Cat) or are interested in following the footsteps of Jin from "Ghosts of Tsushima" videogame fame. Back to the hotel: on the surface, it's charming. It's perched atop a small hill with wonderful views of the ocean, has a chapel that is geared towards weddings and wedding receptions, and - despite its age - the structure itself is somewhat photogenic. Step inside, however, and you'll be reminded that this is not in any way a luxury resort. We stayed in the Annex Suite, the only stand-alone room with no shared walls. It's 49 square meters in size - just enough to prevent us from feeling claustrophobic - with a separate living and bedroom. The carpet was stained in more than a few places, the bathroom only had one sink, and the bath and shower was a combo unit that is more akin to a standard American Marriott or Hilton (nicer Japanese hotel rooms have more of a "wet room" layout with separate shower and baths.) They also don't offer face wash, face lotion or cleanser (although they do provide a shower cap, toothbrush, cotton swabs and shampoo/conditioner in tear-open packaging. Although there is no Onsen (hot spring) in the room, they do have a communal (gender segregated) bathing facilities on site. Sadly, it was under maintenance when we were there, so we did not have a chance to try it out. The food is not exactly top-end kaiseki, but by hotel standards, it was pretty decent. We had the pleasure of experiencing several local dishes, including "Rokubei," a noodle that is made from the starch of Satsuma-imo (Japanese Sweet Potatoes) that has a chewy and plump texture, and is somewhat of a cross between soba noodles and konnyaku (konjac) in this regard. Tsushima is also known for its "Anago" (Conger Eel), and the hotel served it as a Tempura, which was delicious. Nothing was particularly fancy, but everything was nicely prepared and nothing left us wanting. If you are intent on visiting Tsushima, this is probably your best bet. Don't go in with super high expectations, and if you can swing it, go for the Annex Suite