Hotel New Ginsui — Hotel in Nishiizu

We had a wonderful 4-night stay at New Ginsui Dogashima. This was a summer holiday trip with our 4-year-old.||||New Ginsui is a nice spot for families with younger children. This period was busy with families, lots of children, but we never felt crowded. The hotel absorbs its guest well. They have nice pools for kids, both indoors and outdoors. The beach is rocky so you need swim shoes although the water is very nice for swimming. Our daughter loved catching little crabs and fish around the beach. They have games with prizes at night for children. The kids all seemed to have had fun.||||The staff are friendly and nice to children. Some staff speak English.||||Hotel is very nice and spacious. We booked a non-smoking room. Our room was big and comfortable with a beautiful view. It was Japanese style with tatami mats. This was in the South Wing and we loved it. Even the hallways were beautifully decorated and a pleasure to stroll. When we took the elevators to the 9th floor dining area we also enjoyed walking the Japanese themed corridors. I think the experience in the West Wing must be different; the corridors are narrow, drab and smell like smoke.||||The dinners were great and the breakfast buffet was nice, lots of selection. The view from the dining hall is wonderful.||||Public bath was very nice and convenient. 24 hours. It is big so never felt crowded. The sauna is not open in the morning.||||The hotel had shuttle buses to the town for the fireworks night. The fireworks show was amazing.||||One odd thing happened when we first arrived. We were greeted in the parking area and we said that we were checking in but would first like to have lunch. The parking attendant told us that there were no lunch facilities and directed us to town. Actually, the hotel has a lunch restaurant and we would have happily eaten there instead of heading back out.||||The nice thing about the New Ginsui is that there seems to be a flexibility to allow people to relax and have fun, unlike so many Japanese hotels with all their stifling rules. Wonderful place. We recommend and would certainly return.||||Dohashima is a beautiful place to visit with many nice activities. It takes about 30 minutes to...

Ok. I've rated 3 stars. This is one of the most difficult reviews I've written in years. I feel bad about the review cozI really want to have loved the place!!! Would I go back? No. The service is superb. The staff are super friendly. No English spoken. Every room has panoramic views of the islands and the sea. The Japanese style room that we had was large and spacious with a mini couch and armchair by the massive window. Also a low cut table and two chairs on the tatami. But it's a huge sprawling place that has dated terribly. Badly in need of a total refurb. It is very comfortable. It's got this strange lost in the 80s feel. The lowest level is an "entertainment" zone!!! Karaoke, table tennis, machines! And it's really sad to behold. They have clearly aimed at the tour bus market. Most days the place becomes noisy and smoky from 4pm onwards. The dining is surreal. There are several dining rooms and function rooms. We ate in one on level 9. Huge place, bright lights and dated piano music on replay. Dinner, in the main was good and plentiful. However, they are catering for huge numbers so there was quite a bit of reheated food!!!! Breakfast is a buffet - it's fine. Nothing special. Again, bulk catering. We were on half board: breakfast and dinner. Wish we weren't.|Both swimming pools were empty in late May despite warm/ hot weather. Not sure if they are ever filled. Gardens areas are not used though al fresco would be ideal. Café was closed?! I have some tattoos on arms and could only use onsen after 7pm each night. Do use the outdoor bath at night. Or day if no tattoos!|The place is soulless. They need help.|But the staff are superb. Friendly, helpful and attentive.|It's overpriced and we are paying for the amazing location.|Dogashima and Matsuzaki are great. Make sure to do 20 minute boat trip of caves at Dogashima. Great slow safe car driving experience all around the...

Ok. I've rated 3 stars. This is one of the most difficult reviews I've written in years. I feel bad about the review cozI really want to have loved the place!!! Would I go back? No. The service is superb. The staff are super friendly. No English spoken. Every room has panoramic views of the islands and the sea. The Japanese style room that we had was large and spacious with a mini couch and armchair by the massive window. Also a low cut table and two chairs on the tatami. But it's a huge sprawling place that has dated terribly. Badly in need of a total refurb. It is very comfortable. It's got this strange lost in the 80s feel. The lowest level is an "entertainment" zone!!! Karaoke, table tennis, machines! And it's really sad to behold. They have clearly aimed at the tour bus market. Most days the place becomes noisy and smoky from 4pm onwards. The dining is surreal. There are several dining rooms and function rooms. We ate in one on level 9. Huge place, bright lights and dated piano music on replay. Dinner, in the main was good and plentiful. However, they are catering for huge numbers so there was quite a bit of reheated food!!!! Breakfast is a buffet - it's fine. Nothing special. Again, bulk catering. We were on half board: breakfast and dinner. Wish we weren't.|Both swimming pools were empty in late May despite warm/ hot weather. Not sure if they are ever filled. Gardens areas are not used though al fresco would be ideal. Café was closed?! I have some tattoos on arms and could only use onsen after 7pm each night. Do use the outdoor bath at night. Or day if no tattoos!|The place is soulless. They need help.|But the staff are superb. Friendly, helpful and attentive.|It's overpriced and we are paying for the amazing location.|Dogashima and Matsuzaki are great. Make sure to do 20 minute boat trip of caves at Dogashima. Great slow safe car driving experience all around the...