Kumano-Bettei Nakanoshima, hotel in Higashimuro District, Japan
Kumano-Bettei Nakanoshima is a hotel set on a small private island in Katsuura Bay, reachable only by a short ferry crossing. It is made up of two buildings with around 40 rooms in total, ranging from traditional tatami-style rooms to modern Western-style ones, some of which have their own outdoor baths.
The hotel has been operating for over 80 years, growing from a traditional Japanese inn into what it is today. A newer building called Nagi-no-sho was added more recently, bringing a fresh feel to the property without departing from its origins.
The name of this hotel refers to the Kumano region, a place in Japan long associated with pilgrimage routes and forested mountains. Guests who walk the island's paths notice how the buildings follow the natural contours of the land rather than imposing on them.
The hotel is reached from central Katsuura on foot to a nearby dock, followed by the hotel's own ferry crossing. Guests should plan their arrival time with care, as the last ferry of the day runs in the evening and there is no other way onto the island.
The island sits on six separate natural hot spring sources, which supply both sulfur and chloride waters. Some of the outdoor baths are placed right at the water's edge, so guests soak while looking directly out at the open sea.
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