Orange Bay — Hotel in Unzen

The Orange Bay Hotel is situated in Obama, a small city in southern Japan. Obama is known for its hot springs and for a famous person who shares the same name. It is 20 minutes by bus/taxi to Unzen, which is an area more well-known for hot springs. Orange Bay is a good, small hotel, the staff having generally only a minimal command of English. It is modern and clean and it is the only hotel that could be recommended by me in Obama. Trust me - I walked around the area and checked out 8 - 10 hotels before finding Orange Bay just as the sun was beginning to set (and it is a picturesque sunset looking out on to the bay.)||||The rooms are clean and compact. The bathroom is fine - but no shower, no bath. Strange, I thought, until I realised that the shower is on the balcony, looking out on to the bay. There is a modesty curtain on the balcony so that you do have your privacy. It was great to have a shower on the balcony every morning. (I was there for 3 days.) On the balcony there is also a hot tub, using spring water that can be shut off or opened as and when required, temperature-controlled. It was a great way to start each morning, followed by a leisurely walk around Obama and the waters edge, just as the city was arising.||||The restaurant is great, with a menu offering French-style food at night. But the individually served breakfast was the restaurant highlight. On the first morning I was served eggs one way, differently served on the second morning and on the third morning they offered me waffles (by showing me a photo of some waffles from a French cook-book.) I declined waffles and received a nice fruit platter instead.||||Orange Bay - yes. If ever I return to Obama or to the area in general, it will be...

The Orange Bay Hotel is situated in Obama, a small city in southern Japan. Obama is known for its hot springs and for a famous person who shares the same name. It is 20 minutes by bus/taxi to Unzen, which is an area more well-known for hot springs. Orange Bay is a good, small hotel, the staff having generally only a minimal command of English. It is modern and clean and it is the only hotel that could be recommended by me in Obama. Trust me - I walked around the area and checked out 8 - 10 hotels before finding Orange Bay just as the sun was beginning to set (and it is a picturesque sunset looking out on to the bay.)||||The rooms are clean and compact. The bathroom is fine - but no shower, no bath. Strange, I thought, until I realised that the shower is on the balcony, looking out on to the bay. There is a modesty curtain on the balcony so that you do have your privacy. It was great to have a shower on the balcony every morning. (I was there for 3 days.) On the balcony there is also a hot tub, using spring water that can be shut off or opened as and when required, temperature-controlled. It was a great way to start each morning, followed by a leisurely walk around Obama and the waters edge, just as the city was arising.||||The restaurant is great, with a menu offering French-style food at night. But the individually served breakfast was the restaurant highlight. On the first morning I was served eggs one way, differently served on the second morning and on the third morning they offered me waffles (by showing me a photo of some waffles from a French cook-book.) I declined waffles and received a nice fruit platter instead.||||Orange Bay - yes. If ever I return to Obama or to the area in general, it will be...

The hotel is exceptionally good. There is private onzen in all rooms. The room that we stayed is the largest out of all. We have a dinning room, living room, bedroom and an onzen area which is as large as the living room. The room is well equipped with humidifier, coffee maker, hi-fi, DVD player. Needless to say, there is free Wi-Fi and the speed is faster. The onzen is large enough for a family of 3 to 4 at a time. The Japanese style fottan bed is the best I have ever used. The only criticism is that the quilt is not longer enough. I'm just 5'10" tall. Dinning and living rooms are western style while the bedroom is Japanese style, so you have dual experience in one night. Our package is inclusive of breakfast, which is western style and I can see is not only the quality is good, I can feel the heart of the boss and his wife to make all guests a wonderful experience in the hotel. I will definitely stay here again whenever I come...