Gardenvilla Shirahama

We loved this place!! The staff was so kind and helpful! They helped us book activities and even were able to loan us some snorkeling gear for the day. We also really appreciated their flexibility when we had to arrive a day late due to a tsunami warning which cancelled all transport. The location is beautiful (amazing view!!!) and the pool and outdoor onsen was so lovely! We loved the poolside bar in the evening and the breakfast was incredible.

The point of this hotel is not the fabulous view, the best breakfast since we got to Japan, the private onsen with, again, the view, the lovely pool or proximity to the beach. It's the vibe. The people running this place are simply great. They gave us a very rare glimpse of life well lived, in a country very far away from our own. An obviously home cooked ramen at night, making sure we got to the right route when hiking, finding us a good local restaurant - service in Japan is always good, but this was delivered in a laid back and genuinely caring way. Is it the surfers' way? I don't know. But we left relaxed, and we'd love to come back.

Gardenvilla is a lovely comfortable homely place to stay with warm friendly staff.The rooms are a little older but the are very comfy.Thr bed was one of the most comfortable we stayed in on our trip.There is a recent addition of a modern sauna,private outdoor hot pool and large outdoor pool.I could imagine it as a great place to return to often

We absolutely loved our stay at the Gardenvilla Shirahama. The staff were incredibly friendly (and spoke very good english). The facilities, including two different outdoor onsen, a pool, and a lovely lounge were tranquil places to recover and recuperate from 2 weeks of travel. The first night, we realized that we had to book the BBQ dinner at least 1 day in advance, and took the recommendation for a nearby restaurant. The restaurant (Ueno Yamitae) was one of our favorite meals during our entire 3 week trip in Japan. The next day we rented e-bikes from the Gardenvilla Shirahama and explored Shimoda and the surrounding area before retiring to the hotel for the outdoor BBQ dinner, drinks in the hotel lounge, and a soak in their lovely outdoor onsen. It was one of the best days of our entire trip.

We had a wonderful 3 night stay at this gorgeous boutique hotel, to celebrate our silver anniversary. Quite simply it surpassed all our expectations - whilst the rooms are slightly tired, in need of fresh coat paint, new carpet etc, the decor is classy and timeless and rooms very clean. The bed was large and comfortable and the view from the room breathtaking. The day started with a scrumptious hot breakfast, consisting of warm bread rolls, yoghurt, eggs, fresh fruit, coffee and juice and then when you thought you couldn't possibly eat any more, freshly made pancakes are brought to your day. Like the sea view apartments, the dining room/bar also has stunning ocean views. The day ended with a private open air bath....really it doesn't get much better - sheer bliss. The hotel owners/employers were charming and accommodating and seem like genuinely good people who enjoy what they do. They should be very proud of the quality of service they provide. We were also grateful that we could communicate in English which was very helpful to us. Free parking and WiFi also available. Thank you for a wonderful stay, we will no doubt see you again.