Hoshino Resorts, Kai Izumo — Local services in Izumo

This Kai is in a beautiful spot at Hinomisaki, overlooking the Japan Sea. The decor is elegant, very minimal, and the rooms are comfortable and quiet. Food is entirely Japanese kaiseki style, with mostly local ingredients, and we found it excellent. Staff are friendly young people. The guests when we were there were almost all Japanese. The onsens are small but pretty nice (not superb like some Hoshinoya facilities, but certainly quite acceptable) and has a nice view out over the coast and the ocean. Major drawback is that it is 10 km or so from Izumo Taisha up a very narrow, twisting road. Bus service is not good and taxis were impossible to find during our visit— we ended up renting a car, an unexpected expense. And as with other Hoshino resorts this one has quirks. No coffee, for one, except at a vending machine outside the hotel grounds. Aside from the onsen, an evening traditional dance performance, and the wonderful meals, there’s really nothing to do at the hotel. But that is part of the draw, it is quiet, with a Zen like simplicity we enjoyed. And of course Izumo Taisha and the nearby Hinomasaki-ji are spectacular. We had some difficulty communicating with the hotel staff by email before arrival. Once there,...

Overall the meal and activities are good, and the view is astonishing

This hot spring inn is a part of the Hoshino Resorts, located in Hinomisaki, the westernmost tip of the Shimane Peninsula, the birthplace of mythology. There are two types of rooms: those facing the ocean, where you can watch the sunrise, and those facing the Hinomisaki Lighthouse, where you can see the sun setting into the sea. The interior is made with Sekishu washi paper, a traditional craft of Shimane, and staff will perform Iwami Kagura, giving you the opportunity to experience local culture. It is about a 20-minute drive from Izumo Taisha Shrine, making...