Monjuso Shorotei

Monjuso Shorotei in Miyazu, Japan, a distinguished Michelin Key Selected property, consistently earns high praise for its blend of traditional Japanese hospitality with luxurious comfort and breathtaking scenery. Guests frequently highlight the exceptional service, exquisite dining, and serene ambiance as reasons for an unforgettable stay.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

Monjuso Shorotei generally receives an "Exceptional" rating, with scores often ranging from 9.1 to 9.7 out of 10 across various platforms. The overwhelming sentiment is one of profound satisfaction, describing it as an "excellent experience," a "luxurious retreat," and a "perfect experience" that many guests wish to revisit.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently rave about several standout features:

• Service & Hospitality: The staff's attentive, kind, and friendly demeanor is a recurring commendation, making guests feel genuinely welcomed and at home.
• Dining Experience: The food is frequently described as exceptional, delicious, and beautifully presented, utilizing fresh, local ingredients.
• Location & Views: The ryokan's prime location offers incredible views of Amanohashidate, the Sea of Japan, and the picturesque Aso Bay/canal from many rooms and the garden.
• Room Design & Comfort: Spacious, clean, and comfortable Japanese-style rooms with traditional design elements and modern amenities are highly appreciated.
• Onsen & Baths: The relaxing hot spring baths, especially private open-air baths, provide a rejuvenating experience. The ryokan is noted for its sukiya (tea house) style architecture.

3. Room Quality

The rooms at Monjuso Shorotei are characterized by their serene Japanese-style design, often featuring tatami flooring and low-set chabudai tables. Many rooms are newly renovated, spacious, and impeccably clean, offering garden and/or sea views that are likened to paintings. Amenities such as underfloor heating contribute to comfort. Several rooms boast private open-air baths or semi-open-air baths, providing a sense of luxury and relaxation. These baths often include modern fixtures like Mirable showerheads, leaving skin feeling smooth. Guests also appreciate thoughtful touches like free mini-bars, facial masks, and lotions in the bathrooms. The ryokan offers various room types, including deluxe suites and special rooms with Japanese-style living rooms, bedrooms, and studies, some with generous floor plans up to 117 square meters.

4. Dining Experience

The dining at Monjuso Shorotei is a major highlight, consistently receiving exceptional ratings. Guests are treated to a culinary journey of authentic Japanese cuisine, meticulously prepared by skilled chefs using the freshest local ingredients. Dinner and breakfast, often kaiseki style, are praised for their delicious flavors and beautiful, artistic presentations. Specialties include seasonal dishes, with crab being a notable offering in winter. Meals are typically served in the stone-oven restaurant "MON" or a designated dining area, with specific time slots for dinner and breakfast. While the food quality is highly lauded, some guests have noted that portions can be quite generous, even "slightly too large."

5. Service & Staff

The service and staff at Monjuso Shorotei are frequently described as excellent and a key factor in guests' positive experiences. Reviewers commend the staff for being pleasant, attentive, kind, and incredibly helpful, often anticipating needs without being asked. This exceptional hospitality contributes significantly to a comfortable and memorable stay, making guests "feel at home." There's even a mention of a trainee attendant from Nepal providing outstanding service.

6. Location & Accessibility

Monjuso Shorotei is ideally situated in Miyazu, offering a peaceful waterfront setting with stunning views of Amanohashidate, one of Japan's three most scenic views, and the Asoumi Sea. The ryokan is within walking distance of popular attractions such as Amanohashidate Beach and Chionji Temple. Access is convenient, with a 6-minute walk from Amanohashidate Station, which is reachable by JR Limited Express from Kyoto or Osaka. Free on-site parking is available for guests. While the location is excellent, one guest found the narrow road leading to the parking lot a bit "nerve-wracking" due to pedestrian traffic.

7. Value & Pricing

As a Michelin Key Selected property, Monjuso Shorotei is recognized for significantly enhancing the guest experience in categories including value for price. While considered a luxurious retreat, guests generally feel it is worth the cost due to the high quality of rooms, dining, service, and location. Typical prices for a stay including dinner and breakfast range from 59,400 to 203,100 yen per guest per night.

8. Common Complaints

While overwhelmingly positive, some minor criticisms have been noted:

• Portion Sizes: Some guests found the meal portions to be "slightly too large," suggesting they might be overwhelming.
• Bath Privacy/Maintenance: A few guests mentioned that while private baths offer a view, a stone wall in front might allow public visibility, making it difficult to enjoy an open-curtain bath. Another noted mold around a showerhead in a private bath, which was disappointing given the otherwise well-maintained property. The public bath also lacked handrails, which could be inconvenient.
• Dining Arrangement: One reviewer expressed a preference for the previous room service dining style over the current private dining area, suggesting the latter felt less intimate and sometimes resulted in cooler food.
• Language Barrier: For some international guests, a perceived lack of English-speaking staff at the front desk was a minor inconvenience, though one friendly kitchen staff member was noted.
• Minor Amenities/Maintenance: One older review mentioned a humidifying air purifier with a full dust filter and a lack of cold sweet red bean soup in the lounge during specific hours, or lack of clear communication about it.

Sources

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9. michelin.com
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