Family-Friendly Hotels in Matsushima & Minamisanriku: Bay Views and Hot Springs

When you are choosing a family hotel in Matsushima or Minamisanriku, it can be hard to know what to base the decision on. Matsushima is known as one of the Three Views of Japan, the country's three classic scenic landscapes, and it is a calm area where you spend your time looking out at the islands scattered across the bay. It has a different character from flashy theme park destinations. That is exactly why parents wonder whether their children will get bored, and whether it is easy to move around with a little one in tow.

The first thing that matters when picking a hotel here is the room type. Of the 4 properties we list, 4 have Japanese-style or Japanese-Western rooms. A tatami room lets you put a crawling or toddling child down on the floor, so you do not have to worry about falls from a bed. Some properties, like Matsushima Sakan Shoan, offer detached villas or whole-house rentals, which makes them an option for families who would rather not worry about the people around them. Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Premium Hotel Sokan lends out baby futons, a real help for anyone traveling with an infant who wants to pack lighter.

The bathing situation is another big factor for families. Matsushima Onsen Matsushima Ichinobo and YOKI MATSUSHIMA both have simple hot spring water (tanjun onsen, a low-mineral spring type), which is considered gentle on the skin and suits families who want to bathe together with a small child. YOKI MATSUSHIMA has private reservable baths, and Matsushima Sakan Shoan and Matsushima Onsen Matsushima Ichinobo have rooms with their own open-air baths, so while you are still nervous about your child crying in the large communal bath, you can simply keep bath time inside your room.

When it comes to meals, the strength of this area is being able to choose by your child's age: Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Premium Hotel Sokan serves baby food and provides children's tableware and bibs, while YOKI MATSUSHIMA offers a toddler menu and can accommodate allergies. Some properties also have private or semi-private dining rooms, so you can eat calmly even if your child gets loud. Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Premium Hotel Sokan has a kids' room and play room, a dependable escape on a day when the weather turns.

The heart of playtime here is the sea and the view across the bay. YOKI MATSUSHIMA is within walking distance of the sea and the beach, so you can use the hotel as a base and stroll at your own pace. Watching the islands from a sightseeing boat, walking along the shoreline: this is an area where children with plenty of energy and children with less can enjoy the same trip at the same pace.