Hoshino Resorts KAI Tamatsukuri

This is a wonderful spa experience in the countryside of Japan. The attention to detail and care taken by the staff are impressive. There are many English speaking employees, which made our stay easy. The food and presentation are five star. The activities are authentic Japanese and the location is perfectly situated between Izumo and Matsue for good sightseeing.

It was a wet and snowing day when we arrived at Kai Izumo, the entrance is understated and I was looking forward to experience the well known hospitality of the Hoshino resort group. Check in was smooth and attentive, our room was immaculate and we had a private cypress wood bath to use and a kotasu, which is like a table combined with a blanket that is placed over heating underneath, a great warming device for winter. We then visited the tea room, where a lady prepared green tea matcha and wagashi for us in a traditional way. A nice touch before heading out to walk around the Tamatsukuri onsen area. After seeing the shrine and some quaint shops, we headed back for dinner, which was a feast of pine needle crab, a local delicacy that was in season. Dinner was served in the dining room, not in our room, which I liked as the atmosphere was more upbeat. The dining room was fully occupied but the attendants were efficient and gave some interesting introduction on food in fluent English. The meal was 10 courses, nearly all made with crab, inside yam pudding, sashimi, grilled, tempura, steamed, in miso soup etc. It was all perfect and we definitely overate. After a short rest, we head to use the public hot spring, which was brightly lit and well maintained. I enjoyed some tea and used the massage chair after bathing, fully relaxed for bedtime. Next morning, braving the cold I tried the private bath with hot spring water, what a great way to start the day! After the lovely japanese breakfast set, we checked out to drive to Hiroshima. Even though our visit was short, I was impressed by the level of service and care at Kai Izumo. As part of a group, it is more boutique and has less rooms, all the amenties are well thought out and refined without being extravagant. While it was somewhat different to the countryside pension or the heritage ryokan that I have staid in with personal one on one service and traditional cooking, it is still a must try experience, especially when the crab is in season!

We stayed there for 1 night in December, 2019. It was wonderful!||||We were recommended this ryokan by friends of ours who stayed there for their wedding ceremony. It was a good recommendation.||||Service was great with English spoken by many of the staff. (When we arrived by taxi at about 3:15 PM, there was a staff person waiting in the parking lot to greet us. Within two minutes or so, there were another 3 persons helping us with our luggage!)||||Rooms all have individual rotemburo (outdoor baths) which was nice.||||Meals were great! ||||Don't forget to attend the Iwami Kagura performance which the staff puts on after dinner. It was memorable (as our server at dinner was one of the main characters)!||||Overall, I would recommend this ryokan to others and would also look to stay at other Hoshino Resorts!

I've been to KAI Izumo 3x now and have been returning every few years since 2008. I have been to many ryokan around Japan, but the service here is unbelievable -- once I came during the winter and one of the staff brushed off all the snow from my car and shoveled a path for us. On my most recent visit in May 2016, I discovered that much of the staff now speaks English! ||||Tamatsukuri is actually pretty difficult to get to, but once you're in town the experience is charming. Before dinner, we dressed in yukata and the staff gave us actual old-school candle lanterns to walk down the street in, as well as a little kit containing a towel and some other necessities when visiting some of the local attractions (like the foot bath). A number of Japanese people actually stopped to ask us if they could borrow our lanterns for photo-taking purposes since it was so unusual to see.||||Dinner (and breakfast) is served in the dining room and it is an impeccable kaiseki meal with local ingredients. As always, it was simple and delicious. Not necessarily something fancy and Michelin-starred and modern, just beautiful traditional Japanese food.||||We selected a room with our own outdoor bath which was very lovely. In the past, I had rooms on the top floor, but this time selected a room on the bottom floor which had a small courtyard area in addition to the bath. ||||For entertainment, they have kagura (traditional Japanese theatre) performances in the courtyard in the evening with traditional Japanese snacks served. There is also an authentic tea house where they perform private tea ceremony with you, but we were unable to book before we left.||||After three times, I'm positive the next time I'm back in Shimane, I'll return to KAI Izumo!

We stayed here for three nights and enjoyed every minute of it. Very friendly English speaking staff, nice onsen and lovely ambience. They even provide sake masks for your onsen. ||Every kaiseki dinner was a gastronomic delight - delicious and beautifully plated. There is a cultural entertainment in the evening as well. ||We also enjoyed a lovely walk around the hotel area along the river. ||We highly recommend this hotel. ||||

This is my fifth stay at Hoshinoya Group, overall is perfect, I enjoyed 3Days 2 Night there, reserved 1st floor guest room, the room is clean&large, welcome amenities also nice. highly recommend tourist to use their outdoor hot spring, super nice!!! KAISEKI dinner set also perfect, however maybe a little duplicate with other Hoshinoya Property, most of the cuisine did tried before, recommend Hoshinoya san can change menu yearly hahaha!!!

If a Gaijin wanders to Tamatsukuri in November...they probably are looking to experience old Japan. Kai Izumo brings you there. The baths are what one imagines...the rooms traditional, even if the bedding isn't a true Futon. Different rooms offer different benefits. Choose carefully. You do get what you pay for and it is not inexpensive. The food is what you should expect from a Ryokan. Served in dining room, rather then room, but delicious!

It was the worst and the most expensive room I have ever stayed. Room was not made properly and dinner wasn't so fantastic.||For this price, they don't have a shuttle bus service so I had to catch a taxi.||Normally in Japan, if we pay 20000 yen or around $250, for Japanese Inn, you get a free shuttle bus service from the station to the Inn plus amazing dinner plus great hospitalities.||I can't give even one star for Hoshino.||I have complained to the manager but they did nothing for my complains and also I sent a message to the company but no reply.||Imagine I paid nearly 80000 yen or nearly $1000 for one night and the price is not matching with what they offered me.||Hoshino did not bother about my complain and it was the worst attitude as the hotel businesses.