A Japanese-style inn that spoils women — Keirantei at Kankoen in Hiroshima, Japan

By Liu Jiawen | Reported & Compiled | Source: MK Editorial Department

Situated in the seaside town of Kankō-no-Ura, Keirantei at Kankoen is a Japanese inn with a completely new style. Renovated and redesigned in the spring of 2002, it has become a thoughtful accommodation tailored for female solo travelers. From the entrance, you can feel a different kind of traditional Japanese aesthetic. Upon entering, guests are led to a lobby filled with modern retro charm. The folk-art-inspired tables and chairs are set facing a cozy sunken hearth, yet nothing feels out of place—reminiscent of the warm welcome once offered at traditional Japanese inns. Amid the mingling scents of charcoal and sea breeze, you’re served a thoughtfully prepared welcome drink. Female guests can freely choose from over 20 styles of yukata (casual kimono) and obi (sash) displayed in the lobby. If none catch your fancy, the staff can bring out even more adorable or mature designs—the inn always has over 130 yukata patterns on hand to delight every woman.

Don’t rush back to your room just yet. One corner of the lobby is filled with a variety of mountain vegetables and fresh catches from the Seto Inland Sea. Start by selecting your dinner main—perhaps an snapper head, filefish, horse mackerel, flounder, or cutlassfish. You can also choose your preferred cooking method: steamed, boiled, grilled, or fried. For those not keen on seafood, premium Japanese wagyu beef is also available. Afterward, it’s time to enjoy the onsen. The Kankō-no-Ura hot spring, a natural, mildly radioactive cold mineral spring, is colorless, odorless, and crystal clear. Soaking in the open-air bath, with the scent of the sea carried on the breeze, is an exquisite experience. If you want more, you can even stroll out in your yukata to the nearby sister inn, “European-Style Inn,” to enjoy a different view of the ocean. In the snowy depths of winter, the inn can even arrange a car transfer.

After soaking in the beautifying “beauty soup” that leaves your skin smooth and elastic, it’s time for the much-anticipated dinner. Unlike the usual in-room meals, Keirantei at Kankoen promotes a new dining concept by inviting guests to the second-floor “Keirantei.” Each private room offers views of Sensui Island and the distant twinkling fishing boat lights on the sea. From appetizers and sashimi to tempura and vinegared dishes, each creatively prepared course by the chef brings delightful surprises. There’s also the inn’s most famous dish: snapper head rice, infused with the essence of umami. The meal concludes perfectly with a delightful dessert platter loved by women. Enjoying this hot spring dinner relaxes both the eyes and the soul, filling your Japanese-style journey with beautiful memories.

【Travel Information】

Keirantei at Kankoen

Address: 421 Kamicho, Tomocho, Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture

Phone: +81-84-982-2121

Transportation: Take a bus bound for Kankō-no-Ura or Kankō Port from Fukuyama Station on the JR Sanyo Shinkansen or Sanyo Main Line, and get off at Kankō-no-Ura. The ride takes about 30 minutes.

Website: www.keishokan.com

More Hiroshima local accommodation options:

ANA Crowne Plaza Hiroshima: