I spent two nights at Hoshinoya Guguan in a Feng room. The hotel was accommodating, converting the beds from three singles to a king and a single for us.
Regrettably, despite its stunning location in the mountains, the resort doesn’t justify its high rates. I’ve visited other hot springs resorts, and, unfortunately, Hoshinoya Guguan doesn’t measure up.
Additionally, there’s ongoing construction nearby, which is incredibly loud. The noise from the banging and machines disrupted the peaceful setting, forcing us to stay indoors rather than enjoying the outdoors.
For those interested in the onsen, it’s worth noting that the public hot spring is open only from 6-10 a.m. and 4-10 p.m. It closes for cleaning daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., which seems impractical. Ideally, cleaning would occur overnight to not disrupt daytime use.
The dining options are quite limited. Dinner at the restaurant was underwhelming with bland food, and the courses arrived too quickly, making us feel rushed. Breakfast is available from 7-9:30 a.m. and lunch from 12-2 p.m., offering narrow time frames for meals and very limited menu options. Missing the breakfast window means waiting until noon to eat. We were glad that we did not take the meal plan.
In summary, the experience doesn’t live up to the price. Significant improvements are necessary to justify the cost.