Houraikan Inn

What a beautiful hotel, located directly on a beautiful beach, and run by a beautiful person who shares her story about the 2011 tsunami. This place is not-to-be-missed if you are looking to see Japan outside the usual tourist spots. Included food and drinks are just a bonus, but very thoughtful!

This one of the best hot-spring Inns I ever visited in Japan, location beach front, very nice rooms with a very nice indoor and outdoor hot spring onsen.. I was lucky to get a delicious dinner with free all you can drink package and a perfect Japanese breakfast.. staff is very kind and service is top noch.. can’t wait to get back here..

Our family of three Australians had a great time here! When you walk in, you take your shoes off and put them in a locker, as is Japanese customs. Where this hotel really shines is in the restaurant, it serves a set menu of local dishes (usually seafood)! I am allergic to all seafood, that was lost in translation for dinner, but at breakfast there was many options for me and my son (who dislikes raw fish) such as miso soup, natto, yoghurt, Japanese omelettes, pickled vegetables and many more! The chef happily explained all the dishes to us, and it was very delicious! The baths were also very clean and quiet, with a view overlooking the ocean!

Super nice Japanese style hotel with amazing onsen and see view! Breakfast and Dinner was one of the best in our trip.

We stayed for a night during a weekday in late November 2024, and the hotel was relatively quiet with only a few guests. The parking lot was conveniently located right beside the hotel with plenty of spaces available. The room was clean and comfortable for two people. Dinner exceeded our expectations—the seafood was fresh, the dishes were well-seasoned, and the soup was clear and aromatic. We thoroughly enjoyed the meal. Surprisingly, the pudding and marinated pineapple (which I believe was pineapple) were an unexpectedly delightful combination. Breakfast was more standard but still enjoyable. The onsen was newly renovated, featuring both indoor and outdoor baths. The water was very clear, though the temperature was a bit on the hotter side. The outdoor onsen was especially relaxing, allowing us to enjoy the soothing sound of waves and rain simultaneously—another great experience.

Houraikan will always have a very special place in my heart because of the proprietress Akiko-san and her team. I was touched by their story of how they overcame the tsunami, and by their genuine warmth and kindness. Having been to many ryokans, I am familiar with the high standards of service but Houraikan went above and beyond. Their greetings and smiles are more than politeness but genuine warmth and earnestness, which you can feel. Akiko-san went out of her way to take photos for me as I was a solo traveller. She also brought me around Kamaishi, proudly introducing attractions along the way, giving me recommendations and even accompanying me to the tourist centre to get a town map, and then to the museum where she asked that the museum staff take good care of me. When a fire alarm rang in the middle of the night on one night, Akiko-san was so apologetic for disturbing my rest and even though I reassured her that it was alright, she waived the cost of my sake and the usual bath tax as a sincere apology. She also gave me extra snacks and a bandana as a farewell gift. All the staff at Houraikan are warm, friendly and very thoughtful. For example, once I wanted to use the washing machine but it was being used. One of the staff later went out of his way to knock on my room door to let me know that the washing machine had become available for my use. Furthermore, it was lovely to bathe in the lovely open-air wood bath with such a pleasant smell and to soak in the onsen water while listening to the sound of the majestic ocean as it is so close to the shore. The futon is also something special - they have got the most comfy blanket, futon and pillow. I pray for more people to discover the beauty of Houraikan - it is not just the surrounding ocean that is beautiful, it is more than anything the heart of the people at Houraikan that makes it special!

Great location overlooking the beach on one side and thickly wooded mountain slopes on the other. Very traditional inn/ hotel but we did have western style beds which were very comfortable. Well equipped bathroom as you find in all Japanese hotels including nightwear. Rooms also have tea and coffee making equipment. Enjoyed the open air Onsen bath where you can breathe in the lovely fresh pine scented air and fully relax. Dinner was traditional Japanese which was beautifully presented and mainly delicious, some dishes could be a bit challenging to those only used to western style food but this is very much part of the experience and you certainly won’t go hungry. Breakfast is also Japanese style and a wide range of tastes and textures, from steamed rice to braised salmon, savoury custard and various pickles. The staff made us feel very welcome.

It is the first time I write a review but in this case I feel I must. I am very enthousiastic about this Inn! The place is wonderful, just in front of the sea. In fact one can hear the sound of the waves while in the hot bath. The food was excellent, the stuff was very friendly and hospitable, the room was very nice. Overall, quality and harmony in everything.||Just as an indication, one person from our group could not eat Japanese breakfast but was too shy to ask for a European one. They noticed themselves, apologised and offered something for familiar to him. ||I recommend the place with all my heart.