Top Six Moon-Viewing Hotels: Outdoor Onsen Rooms Are the Most Romantic

Text / MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team

The four-day Mid-Autumn Festival holiday is just around the corner. Hotels.com has released the most popular domestic and international destinations searched by Taiwanese travelers for this break, revealing that domestic trips to relaxing Pingtung and Hualien are the top choices, allowing travelers to escape the hustle and bustle with friends and family for a more refined slow-travel experience; as for international travel, long-time favorite Japan remains resilient against exchange rate fluctuations, taking up five of the top spots, with Tokyo, Osaka, and Okinawa ranking in the top three overseas destinations, while Hong Kong and Bangkok secured the fourth and fifth spots respectively.

Hotels and homestays ideal for moon-viewing—from outdoor onsen rooms, open-air pools, to skylight rooms where you can gaze at the moon from bed—have become seasonal hot ticket items. Many were fully booked a month before the Mid-Autumn Festival, but even if you're a late booker, add them to your wishlist for your future dream night sky getaway.

Hotels.com Ranking of Popular Hotel Destinations Searched During the Mid-Autumn Holiday
Domestic
(Search period for accommodations: September 15 – September 18, 2016)

Rank	Destination
1	Hengchun
2	Hualien
3	Taichung
4	Taipei
5	Tainan
6	Kaohsiung
7	Nantou
8	Yilan
9	Taitung
10	New Taipei City

Hotels.com Ranking of Popular Hotel Destinations Searched During the Mid-Autumn Holiday
International
(Search period for accommodations: September 15 – September 18, 2016)

Rank	Destination
1	Tokyo
2	Osaka
3	Okinawa
4	Hong Kong
5	Bangkok
6	Kyoto
7	Macau
8	Seoul
9	Singapore
10	Fukuoka

 

 

 

Recommended outdoor hot spring stays for moon viewing:
1. Ryukyu Onsen Senagajima Hotel─ Okinawa 

From Okinawa Shrine to Shuri Castle, you can explore famous attractions all along one tram line. Visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Shuri Castle in September allows you to watch locals dressed in traditional attire reenact history, as well as enjoy classical dances and royal selection ceremonies — absolutely must-see festivities in a lifetime. The Ryukyu Onsen Senagajima Hotel, conveniently located near Naha Airport, boasts magnificent ocean views. With the seascape stretching to the horizon, soaking in the hot spring under the full moon during Mid-Autumn, listening to the sound of the sea, warms both heart and soul.

2. Fujisan Onsen Hotel Kaneyamaen ─ Tokyo Suburbs
 
Aside from bustling Tokyo, Mount Fuji is also an icon of Japan, and the Fuji Five Lakes offer a variety of stunning sceneries, each with its own charm. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, don’t forget nearby Hakone. From September to October is when the golden fields of susuki grass at Sengokuhara are at their most radiant, allowing the pristine nature to heal your body and soul. Under the bright moon and clear winds, it’s perfect for enjoying a peaceful time alone in the outdoor hot spring of Fujisan Onsen Hotel Kaneyamaen. Wisps of steam blend with the Mid-Autumn moon and the distant silhouette of Mount Fuji, washing away the fatigue of everyday life.

Recommended open-air pool stays for moon viewing:
1. InterContinental Hong Kong ─ Hong Kong
 
When it comes to Hong Kong, shopping and food are a must, and mooncakes for the Mid-Autumn Festival are naturally indispensable. From Tsim Sha Tsui to Causeway Bay, various renowned mooncake brands offer a wide range of flavors — you’re sure to find your favorite. Nearby, K11 Shopping Mall combines art galleries, making shopping feel like an art museum experience. At the outdoor pool of InterContinental Hong Kong, the night view of Victoria Harbour paired with dazzling city lights, a bite of mooncake alongside a breathtaking view, and the endless starry sky above — the reflection of the full moon on the pool’s surface makes for an experience beyond compare.