The ultimate business hotel with natural hot springs and sauna, Hotel Orein Shizuoka【S12】
※ Please note that the information may be incorrect.
【Visit Date】
August 13th and 14th, 2022 (Saturday, Sunday)
【Crowd Level】
There were many guests, but the large public bath and sauna were never crowded.
Additionally, you can check the congestion level of the bath and lounge on the TV in the room and the monitor in front of the bathroom.
【Amenities】
Shampoo, conditioner, and body soap are provided. Towels and indoor clothes were also included in the fee.
【Impressions】
The third summer in the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was the first Obon holiday in three years without restrictions, so I returned to my hometown, Shizuoka.
To meet my parents and friends, I confirmed negative results for both antigen and PCR tests in Tokyo beforehand.
I was planning to take the Shinkansen around noon on the 13th, but due to the approaching typhoon, I left about three hours earlier.
The Shinkansen was running about 30 minutes late due to the rain and wind, but I safely arrived in Shizuoka.
I had a sea bream rice bowl at a tea rice bowl restaurant near Shizuoka Station, and since I had time before checking into the hotel, I took a stroll around the station area.
Perhaps due to the typhoon, there were few people in the city, and many shops seemed to be closed.
I didn't want to walk in the rain, so I killed time watching Netflix while drinking coffee at a Starbucks along the street.
When I headed to the hotel for check-in at 3 pm, there was already a line at the reception.
About 20 people were in line, so I decided to wait for it to clear while having tea in a nearby rest area.
However, even after 30 minutes, the length of the line didn't change, so I had no choice but to join the queue and check in.
I had heard rumors, but it seems to be a very popular hotel.
After checking in, I put my luggage in the room, changed into the indoor clothes, and headed to the large public bath on the top floor with a towel.
I stored my room key and indoor clothes in the locker in the changing room and entered the bathroom.
The bath area is surprisingly spacious for a business hotel.
There are many places to wash your body, and there is also an open-air bath and sauna.
After thoroughly washing and drying my body, I immediately went to the sauna.
The room is divided into three levels, and two people can sit on each level, so a total of six people can enter at the same time.
The thermometer indicated the high 90s (Celsius), and there was an automatic löyly (steam) session every hour.
After about 10 minutes, I went outside, rinsed off my sweat, and entered the cold bath.
The cold bath is next to the sauna room and is not very large, but it can accommodate two people.
The water temperature is on the higher side, but you can soak in it slowly.
After about two minutes, I went to the open-air area.
There were two small chairs next to the open-air bath, so I could take an air bath.
After sitting for a few minutes and drying off, I rehydrated and went for a second set.
There's no TV, so you can focus and enjoy the sauna.
I went outside after 10 minutes, rinsed off my sweat, entered the cold bath for about two minutes, and took an air bath.
I rehydrated and went for a third set.
This time, I stayed in for 12 minutes, then soaked in the cold bath for a little longer.
I enjoyed the air bath for a while, and since it was getting late, I washed and left the bathroom.
The amenities and hairdryers at the washbasin are also well-equipped.
That night, I had yakiniku (grilled meat) for dinner and went to bed.
The next morning, I woke up at 7 am and went to the bath again, which was more crowded than the previous day.
I went to the sauna one last time in the morning and sweated well.
The breakfast buffet at this hotel was diverse and delicious, so it was a good decision to work up an appetite in the sauna.
The hotel, being newly opened, is overall clean, and the service is of a quality that you wouldn't expect from a business hotel.
I especially think the large public bath and sauna are wonderful.
The view from the 14th floor is exceptional, and since only hotel guests can enter, the sauna and cold bath are never crowded, so you can go through your routine with peace of mind.
If I had to suggest improvements, I would lower the temperature of the cold bath a bit and replace the chairs for the air bath with sturdier ones, which would please sauna enthusiasts.
Considering that this is a hotel sauna where children and elderly people also enter and is not a facility specifically for sauna enthusiasts, the current state might be the best.
In any case, if you have the opportunity to stay in the Shizuoka area, I highly recommend this hotel.
| Facility Name | Hotel Orein Shizuoka |
|---|---|
| Website | Homepage |
| Access | 2-1-1 Tokiwamachi, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture |
| Price | 10,000 yen/night |
| Payment | Credit Card |
