Staying at The Mana Village in Cape Ashizuri

About The Mana Village

Set on cliffs near Cape Ashizuri, The Mana Village is divided between two connected buildings. The upper building contains reception and guest rooms; the lower building contains the restaurant, terrace and onsen. Many rooms and shared spaces look directly over the Pacific.

Renovation is uneven. The lobby and renovated rooms feel modern, while some corridors and older sections show considerable wear.

The hotel works best for travellers with a car. Buses are infrequent, and there are few restaurants nearby. Tosashimizu, about 12 km or a 15-minute drive away, has more dining options.

Rooms

We chose a renovated twin room after reading mixed reviews of the older Japanese-style rooms. The room was comfortable, with a window that opened straight onto the Pacific.

We paid ¥23,500 per night for two people, including breakfast, through Rakuten Travel in October 2023.

Breakfast & dinner

Guests could choose a Japanese or Western breakfast each morning. We selected the Japanese breakfast throughout our three-night stay. It included several small dishes, fruit, vegetables and coffee. In good weather, breakfast can be served on the ocean-facing terrace.

Dinner was the weakest part of our stay. The pizza we ordered had undercooked dough, and we found the wine expensive for what was offered. Because nearby alternatives are limited, consider eating in Tosashimizu before returning to the hotel or bringing food with you.

Onsen

Each bathing area has an indoor bath and a small outdoor rotenburo overlooking the ocean and rocky coastline. The outdoor baths were one of the highlights of our stay.

The corridor leading to the baths is long and shows its age, but partway along there's a small relaxation space where guests can help themselves to popsicles and tea — a welcome contrast to the worn approach.

The men's and women's bathing areas switch at set times, giving overnight guests an opportunity to experience both views.

Is The Mana Village worth staying at?

We recommend The Mana Village, especially for its setting, breakfast and onsen. Book a renovated room, eat dinner elsewhere if possible, and expect some older parts of the hotel to show their age.

Things to do nearby

Cape Ashizuri is within walking distance of the hotel. The hotel also works as a base for driving around the Ashizuri Peninsula, including Tosashimizu, Tatsukushi Marine Park and Kashiwajima.

During our stay, the hotel offered a free 30-minute stargazing walk. A guide led us to an open area about three minutes away and pointed out several constellations. The explanations were in Japanese, so non-Japanese speakers may find a star-map app useful.