I was just a grade schooler when it ended, so I completely missed experiencing the late ’80s to early ’90s economic bubble.
The economic bubble, spanning from December 1986 to around February 1991, was a period when the general populace began to feel the good times around 1988, characterized by rapid rises in stock prices, soaring real estate values, and significant increases in personal assets, bringing about an unprecedented economic boom across society.
Economic Bubble | Glossary of Securities Terms | Tokai Tokyo Securities Co., Ltd.
Living in a provincial city (Nagasaki), I have no memory of the lively city scenes often depicted in movies from that time. Maybe that was just a Tokyo thing? Perhaps some of it existed near the nightlife area of Shianbashi, a place kids seldom entered.
It’s unlikely that Japan will ever see such a crazy economic boom again, at least not in my lifetime.
While I can’t experience the bubble live, did you know there’s a hotel in Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, that still breathes the air of that era?
I stumbled upon it while looking for a place to stay during a trip, and it’s called Hotel Kawakyu.
The exterior is like a massive, oddly-shaped castle.
By the entrance, an enigmatic sculpture greets visitors, a glitzy golden hallway reminiscent of a foreign luxury hotel, and every room is a spacious suite.
The ‘King’s Buffet’ for dinner and breakfast offers an array of luxurious dishes including sushi, sukiyaki, tempura, and more, all of which you can enjoy to your heart’s content and are genuinely delicious. This is probably the best buffet-style meal I have ever had.
When we think of the bubble era, we often imagine tasteless ostentation.
However, my stay at ‘Hotel Kawakyu’ was luxurious with substance, not just superficial glamor.
It’s also perfectly located just a 10-minute drive from Japan’s number one panda zoo, Adventure World, making it an ideal base for tourism!
Table of Contents
- A Gigantic and Odd Building in a Rural Town: ‘Hotel Kawakyu’
- The Opulent Interiors and Rooms Are Still Beautiful Today, Offering a Taste of Celebrity
- Sushi, Sukiyaki, Tempura… ‘The King’s Buffet’ Is Luxurious and Too Delicious
- ‘Royal Spa’ Hot Spring Salon: Enjoying the Hot Springs in Resort Style
- Afterword
A Gigantic and Odd Building in a Rural Town: ‘Hotel Kawakyu’
It takes less than two hours by car from Kansai Airport.
In a coastal town with no tall buildings around, suddenly there looms an extravagant, gigantic structure.
What is that… could that be Hotel Kawakyu…?
The hotel is almost like a castle.
It could almost be mistaken for a religious building
If it were a game, it would surely be filled with various puzzles and traps. The lord of the castle must be quite formidable.
Following directions, I parked in a courtyard-like space just inside the gate.
On both sides of the entrance, spires topped with two frolicking rabbits greet the guests.
This odd expenditure is so reminiscent of the bubble era…!
The two welcoming rabbits symbolize Hotel Kawakyu’s hospitality.
Created by Barry Flanagan, a famous British environmental sculptor, they depict a rabbit that once offered its life to a starving monk,
and now stand atop the two towers of Kawakyu as deities of service.
The Charm of Hotel Kawakyu: 100 Selections Vol.2 – Hotel Kawakyu’s Blog – Booking at ＜Jalan＞
The Opulent Interiors and Rooms Are Still Beautiful Today, Offering a Taste of Celebrity
Immediately upon entering the lobby.
You’re overwhelmed by a space reminiscent of a palace in the Middle East, with its high ceilings and dazzling golden glow. What is this place…
Apparently, the lobby is lit even more beautifully when hit by sunlight, thanks to the 22.5-carat gold leaf that adorns it.
I’ve stumbled into an incredible place…
I nervously completed check-in and followed the staff to my room.
The luxurious long corridor.
Although the building and facilities from the time of construction show some signs of age and the taste of the era, they are so well-maintained that it hardly matters.
Hotel Kawakyu features all-suite accommodations, with even the smallest rooms being quite spacious at over 60 square meters.
I stayed in a Kawakyu Suite (Western style) which is about 80 to 90 square meters in size.
It’s so big, you’d wonder who they expect to host. The official capacity is three people max.
If there were kids, they’d definitely be running around as soon as they entered.
Viewed from the opposite side. By combining the sofa and chairs, it seems 11 people could sit here. What’s going on here.
The washroom space is also quite expansive, as you can see.
The furnishings appeared to be mostly foreign-made.
Dr. Ci:Labo’s facial cleanser and cleansing products were also provided.
The view from the window includes the sea. It’s almost completely dark at night, though.
A bed made by Simmons.
I also stopped by the hotel’s gift shop later, which felt like a high-end confectionery store you might find in a department store. I thought about grabbing some beer and snacks, but it didn’t quite feel right.
(Though there was some beer and snacks available)
Even the bathroom entrance is extravagant. The bubble era was truly something else.
Sushi, Sukiyaki, Tempura… ‘The King’s Buffet’ Is Luxurious and Too Delicious
While Hotel Kawakyu also offers French creative cuisine and Japanese kaiseki meals, most plans include meals at the ‘King’s Buffet.’
When you hear “buffet style,” you might typically think of decent quality food in ample quantities.
However, the ‘King’s Buffet’ lives up to its name with a stunning array of exquisite dishes that are a cut above your typical buffet.
Dinner
Upon entering the dinner venue, various dishes were beautifully arranged throughout the gorgeous space.
Not only did they look appetizing, but they were also visually appealing.
The theme is “A luxurious buffet dinner where lavish ingredients from Hokkaido and Kishu meet.”
Gathering luxurious, seasonal ingredients from Hokkaido and Kishu, the food capitals,
our chefs create delicate and beautiful buffet dishes, changing the menu with each season.
The King’s Buffet | Restaurant | Shirahama Onsen Hotel Kawakyu
In addition to the prepared dishes, there are live performances where chefs make sushi, freshly fried tempura, and freshly carved roast beef on the spot, allowing you to enjoy freshly made and freshly prepared delights.
The first thing I picked up looked like this. The presentation might be off, but everything was incredibly delicious.
Freshly fried tempura is the best.
While the venue is crowded, so it lacks the ‘celebrity feel’ of the rooms or entrance, the quality of the food is impeccable.
Dessert performances started coming around shortly after I began eating, but I was in the middle of my meal and missed it, which I now regret…
Honestly, I got so caught up in eating that I didn’t take many pictures. For more details, please visit the following page.
One more thing, alcoholic beverages are quite pricey as a separate charge. I remember beer being close to 1,000 yen.
If the thought of these prices makes you cringe (including myself), I recommend buying drinks elsewhere and enjoying them in your room.
In our case, we found a small supermarket called ‘V Shop Sanbashi Store’ about a 5-minute walk away, where we bought some local beers and relaxed in our room at night.
※ There’s also a convenience store about a 15-minute walk away
Breakfast
Breakfast is also served at the ‘King’s Buffet.’
Live cooking is still active in the morning. Freshly made omelets and onigiri,
including the luxury of sukiyaki in the morning.
A seafood donbowl corner with salmon roe, something usually seen only in hotels in Hokkaido. Warnings about overeating blare loudly in my head.
But I completely ignored those warnings and went for three rounds.
First round: An omelet-based Western-focused setup.
Second round: A Japanese-style setup with onigiri and miso soup.
Ending with a seafood donbowl! I even indulged in the intriguing Western-style risotto.
I ate too much in the morning, but I have no regrets. This is the essence of traveling.
Delicious indeed.
[middleLongreads]
‘Royal Spa’ Hot Spring Salon: Enjoying the Hot Springs in Resort Style
Another highlight of Hotel Kawakyu is the hot spring salon, ‘Royal Spa.’
Men can use the 1F ‘Royal Spa Yuku no Mori’ from noon to evening, while women can enter the next morning.
Since other guests were also in the bath, I only took photos of the terrace area. It’s a relaxing space perfect for chilling after a bath.
View from the terrace.
The powder corner is designed with women in mind. It has partitions, so you don’t have to worry much about privacy.
There’s also a fruit ice bar service.
Here’s the 2F ‘ROYAL SPA.’ Women can use it from noon to evening, and men the next morning.
Built in 2016, it features a well-equipped large bath with a reclining bath, silky bath, sauna, and chairs with sofas.
There’s also a large stone bath outside with a view.
Once you’re warmed up, there’s also a space to lie down and cool off. Truly luxurious.
Afterword
The accommodation price for two people, including dinner and breakfast, starts from the 30,000 yen range (for the Southern Suite).
For such a luxurious and extraordinary experience at this price, it’s quite a bargain. High reviews and ratings make perfect sense.
With its unique and interesting offerings, you can definitely have fun just coming here with a purpose. Of course, you can also visit Adventure World, just a 10-minute drive away, before staying over.
Do visit at least once!
