What kind of hotel is Shonai Hotel Suiden Terrasse?
This is like a stylish business hotel with onsen. The hotel is built-in rice fields by a famous Japanese architecture. If you visit Yamagata prefecture, I would recommend it. We were overwhelmed by the beautiful countryside views, especially at night. It was much more beautiful and nice than it looks on the HP. The buildings look like it’s floating in the rice fields.
On the other hand, if you are looking for a room with private onsen, this is not. There are communal ones only. The ambiance would be cozy, tranquil, and relaxed. The property would be great for solo travelers, groups, couples, or families.
TOP5 Hotels & Ryokans for Families in Tohoku
TOP5 Hotels & Ryokans for Solo Travelers in Tohoku
Is the location easy to access?
The location is near Tsuruoka Station. It takes 10min by taxi. It costs around JPY1,500. There is no free shuttle service. Alternatively, it takes 20min on foot. Then the parking lot is a little away from the property. It would be inconvenient on rainy or snowy days.
Rooms I would recommend?
If you are going to stay here, I would recommend a room with a rural view and a terrace. You can see peaceful rice fields while chilling out in the room. The summer sky that was reflected onto the surface of the water was absolutely amazing. On the other hand, I wouldn’t recommend rooms without views. They would be boring. Most of the rooms tend to be cramped, but user-friendly and functional. Facilities are the latest. The furniture looks like MUJI.
How about toiletries & in-room amenities?
All of the amenities are taken care of including minimum toiletries, yukatas, pajamas, and a green tea set, etc. Also, a tablet was placed in each room. Room service is not available. There is a vending machine for drinks. There is a convenience store nearby. Wi-Fi reception was great on the property. The housekeeping was excellent.
How about In-house Facilities?
There is a wonderful library with many books and peaceful views. You can chillax to the max while enjoying white noise from rice fields. Also, there is a nice gym. You can rent sportswear and shoes. It’s open from 6:00-24:00. *A minimum age requirement of 7 applies.
Then there are small communal hot springs. If you are a hot spring freak, I wouldn’t recommend it. The spring quality wouldn’t be special. They are open from 6:00-24:00. If you have tattoos, you may not be permitted to use the public bathing area.
Then there is a wonderful children’s dome facility next to the hotel, with a library and playground. There are also activities organized for children. The kids will surely not be bored during their stay.
Then this is almost universal design. There is room for wheelchair users. Wheelchairs are available for borrowing. The inside is like a maze. If you bring people with weak feet, you may want to inform the staff in advance as they can arrange a room near the lift.
How about meals?
The restaurant in-house re-opened in Sep 2020, but we didn’t have dinner here. The breakfast buffet is not extensive, but local ingredients are so fresh and tasty. Dinner time at the restaurant is between 18:00 and 23:00. Breakfast time is between 6:00 and 11:00. If you have a car, you should go out for dinner as there are some nice restaurants around Tsuruoka Station, such as Tsuruoka food culture Market FOODEVER.
Refer to the map.
My impressions
Overall, the property has great value for money if you want to see beautiful country views. It is well worth it. The staff tends to be not sophisticated. Their hospitality would be more like typical chain hotels rather than authentic signature Japanese hospitality, but I think it’s OK. Also, I noticed that there would be a shortage of staff.
Anyway, if you want to see amazing views, you should visit between June and early Sep. Rice fields would be so beautiful in green color. At last, don’t forget to check the weather forecast before booking a room. That’s the most important. Have a nice trip! Welcome to receive any questions about the property from the below space. Check-in and out times 15:00/10:00 We had to wait for a while when we checked out. You may want to check out earlier if you want to avoid making a long line. There would be some big tourist groups staying at the property. Check Availability and Pricing for the hotel on Agoda
Info about Shonai Hotel Suiden Terrasse
| Style | Business Hotel |
|---|---|
| Check-in and out times |
15:00/10:00 |
| Estimated Price | 15,000 JPY for 2 adults per room |
| Contact | |
| Internet Connection | Free WiFi in the property |
| Facility Information | Wheelchairs are available Pets are not allowed The free parking lot is available |
| Location | Shonai Hotel Suiden Terrasse’s Map |
| Access | No Free pick-up service |
| Address and TEL |
|
| Official Homepage | Shonai Hotel Suiden Terrasse’s HP |
*All information above is as of the date that I posted on my blog.