TheMana Village
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Hotel Details
Location
TheMana Village · Tosashimizu, Japan
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Key Highlights
- ✓Exceptional Service: The staff's warmth, attentiveness, and willingness to go above and beyond for guests receive widespread praise.
- ✓Remote Location: The hotel's beautiful, secluded setting means it's "off the beaten path," and a rental car is often recommended for exploring the wider area due to infrequent public transport.
Expert Review: TheMana Village
TheMana Village in Tosashimizu, Japan, a Michelin Key Selected property, offers a serene and highly-regarded retreat known for its stunning ocean views, exceptional service, and unique blend of modern comfort with traditional Japanese hospitality.
1. Overall Rating & Sentiment
The general consensus for TheMana Village is overwhelmingly positive, with guests frequently describing it as a "hidden gem" and an "exceptional" destination. Review platforms reflect strong satisfaction, with an overall rating of 8.6 on Agoda and Power Traveller, 8.8 on KAYAK, and an impressive 9.4 on Trip.com, based on numerous verified ratings. The sentiment is one of a tranquil escape that leaves guests feeling refreshed and eager to return.
2. Key Highlights
Guests consistently laud several aspects of TheMana Village:
- Breathtaking Sea Views: The hotel's location provides stunning vistas of the Pacific Ocean from rooms, outdoor onsen, and dining areas. Sunsets and stargazing opportunities are particularly highlighted.
- Exceptional Service: The staff's warmth, attentiveness, and willingness to go above and beyond for guests receive widespread praise.
- Relaxing Onsen Experience: The outdoor hot spring bath overlooking the ocean is a major draw, providing a unique and tranquil experience.
- Delicious Dining: Both the Italian and Japanese culinary offerings are highly praised for their quality and ambiance.
- Unique Activities: Stargazing tours and the ability to rent e-bikes for exploration are appreciated by guests.
3. Room Quality
The rooms at TheMana Village are described as spacious, well-designed, and comfortable, many offering stunning sea views and balconies. Accommodations combine modern amenities with traditional Japanese touches. Deluxe suites, particularly those with sea views, are highly recommended and described as amazing. Guests have noted that while some rooms are elegantly appointed, other Japanese-style rooms might be older or less recently renovated. Newly renovated Western-style rooms are highlighted for being brand new, very nice, super clean, and comfortable.
4. Dining Experience
The dining experience at TheMana Village is a significant highlight. The hotel features an Italian restaurant, Azzurrissimo, which is praised for its quality cuisine and romantic ambiance, especially with its ocean views. Guests enjoy savoring the first two courses on the terrace, where the sunset views are stunning. The Japanese-style courses, particularly the fresh seafood from Ashizuri-Uwakai National Park, including sashimi, tempura, and grilled fish, are highly recommended. The chef searing bonito in front of guests during dinner is mentioned as a fun and eye-catching experience. Breakfast includes local specialties, juice, and fruits, with options for Western, Japanese, Asian, and Italian styles. There is also a coffee shop and BBQ facilities available.
5. Service & Staff
The service and staff at TheMana Village consistently receive exceptional ratings, with scores as high as 9.3 on Agoda, 9.4 on Booking.com, and 9.5 by Power Traveller. Guests frequently commend the staff for being warm, friendly, helpful, attentive, and proactive in assisting with requests, recommending local attractions, and ensuring a memorable stay. They are noted for going "above and beyond" to accommodate needs, even offering different delicious meals for multi-night stays.
6. Location & Accessibility
TheMana Village is nestled in the picturesque town of Tosashimizu, on the southernmost tip of Shikoku Island, within Ashizuri-Uwakai National Park. Its location near Cape Ashizuri lighthouse provides stunning natural beauty, including coastal landscapes and pristine beaches. Nearby attractions include Hakusan Shrine (a 17-minute walk), Kongofuku-ji Temple, and the John Manjiro Memorial Monument. While the setting is serene and idyllic, it is considered somewhat remote. Many guests recommend having a car for full exploration, though the hotel does offer free onsite parking and a shuttle service. Public transportation from Kochi Ryoma Airport is possible via bus, taking approximately 2 hours, followed by a local bus to the village.
7. Value & Pricing
TheMana Village is considered a premium yet affordable option, with an average price of around $350 per room, compared to the average of $301 in Tosashimizu. Many guests find it to be excellent value for money, especially considering the quality of service, amenities, and breathtaking views. While one AI-generated summary on KAYAK showed a "Value for Price" score of 3.0 out of 10, other reputable sources like Agoda rate value for money at 8.6 and 8.0. Some guests mention that the dining experience, particularly dinner, can be a bit pricey.
8. Common Complaints
Despite the overwhelmingly positive feedback, a few recurring issues or criticisms have been noted:
- Remote Location: The hotel's beautiful, secluded setting means it's "off the beaten path," and a rental car is often recommended for exploring the wider area due to infrequent public transport.
- Accessibility for Mobility Issues: The walk from indoor to outdoor baths, or to the annex and open-air baths, can be long and potentially difficult for guests with mobility issues. The hotel does offer a car shuttle service for these areas.
- Condition of Older Sections/Rooms: Some reviews mention that while parts of the hotel are renovated, other areas, like hallways to the onsen, or older Japanese-style rooms, might feel dated or neglected.
- English Communication: A minor point of criticism from one review mentioned staff not always being able to communicate well in English.
- Dining Consistency: One review specifically criticized the pizza at the Italian restaurant as "very bad" and the drink list as "overpriced," contrasting with the generally positive dining feedback.
Sources
Points to Consider
- •Despite the overwhelmingly positive feedback, a few recurring issues or criticisms have been noted:
- •English Communication: A minor point of criticism from one review mentioned staff not always being able to communicate well in English.
Google Reviews
760 reviews
Recent Guest Reviews
J B
We stayed in two different room categories, and would like to share our experience in a constructive and respectful way: 1) Modern ocean-view room (high price category) The room itself is beautiful, however after sunset a serious issue occurs: dozens of green beetles enter through the window seals even when the windows are completely closed. It appears that certain areas were patched, but unfort...
rose louey
Beware! After spending hours planning a trip to visit this Onsen , I came across a not so clear description on their website (descriptions of rooms) that private baths in rooms are not based on hot spring water. I even asked a Japanese friend to call to confirm. Since I’ve noticed no one has mentioned this I thought to post a warning for all. Our family decided to not book in the end as for such ...
Olivier Lenert
Very nicely renovated hotel. Well equipped rooms. View over the ocean. An onsen with an outdoor part, overlooking the cliffs and raging sea. Great staff at front desk and restaurant. Excellent breakfast (I had the Japanese option). A pity the restaurant was closed on Wednesday- but there is a little café not far (ケープ）. Great location for nature lovers. But a bit remote from supermarkets etc. i wou...
Naïla Roland
From the comments and an advice from a tattooed friend, I came here. But when I asked at the counter if tattoos where really allowed, I was refused the entrance. The bath looked amazing, so I was very sad 😢
T P
I hadn't had the chance of living here eventually but wish to express my gratitude towards the staff here. I made a booking at the Mana Village, and on that single day, I was informed that the only train going into 足摺岬 was cancelled due to JR issue. I understand there is a non-cancellation policy but tried to call them, and they had agreed to waive the fee and also told me to re-visit them next ti...
Mathys R.
This is one of the best hotels I've stayed at in my entire life. I wasn't really sure at first what we were in for, but from the breathtaking view on the pacific ocean (in the restaurant and in the outdoor onsen), to the stunning scenery in and around the estate, it is very a pleasure to stay there. The area is definitely one of the most stunning places in Shikoku!
Marriott
