Awaji International Hotel The Sunplaza

Awaji International Hotel The Sunplaza, in the Suntopia Marina complex at Sumoto Onsen on Awaji Island, is a large tourist hotel where every room has an ocean view. It has a bit of everything - onsen, dining and places for children to play - which makes it an easy base for sightseeing around Awaji Island.

What families will appreciate most is how well stocked the play areas are. There is an indoor kids' corner where children can ride Rody, the Italian-made toy, and a kids' space in the courtyard with a range of play equipment, so children have somewhere to play whatever the weather. A garden pool opens in summer, and over the summer holidays (roughly mid-July to the end of August) the hotel runs its "12 Great Perks," which include free use of the pool. A fireworks set giveaway, a summer festival stalls area (a shooting gallery and yo-yo fishing), a bingo tournament, a stamp rally, a picture-diary contest, a sandbox set to borrow and a shuttle to Ohama Beach are all part of the lineup, so there is plenty to keep children from getting bored.

Families traveling with babies under 2 can use the "baby service." It brings together handmade baby food by age (around 5-7 months, 7-9 months and 9-11 months) that the head chef created in consultation with staff who are mothers themselves, at 1,100 yen per meal; a baby-bottle sterilization service, free of charge; futon bedding for young children at 2,200 yen per set; and removal of in-room fixtures with outlet caps fitted, free of charge. The communal bath also lends out baby baths, bath chairs, shampoo hats and bath mats (in limited numbers), so bathing together with your baby is well supported.

As for the baths, the communal bath and the view communal bath - with a sauna, waterfall bath (utaseyu), bubble bath and open-air bath - alternate between men and women. There are also 3 private-hire baths, Shinonome, Sei-u and Komorebi, where a family can take its time in the onsen on its own. A Finnish sauna and a barrel sauna are provided as well.

Dining centers on kaiseki cuisine using Awaji beef along with seasonal seafood such as conger eel, spiny lobster and abalone. There are in-room dining plans and an all-inclusive plan, so families with young children can eat without worrying about other guests. Guest rooms are mainly Japanese-style tatami rooms on floors 3 to 5, and the range extends to special floors and special rooms.

Getting here takes about 15 minutes by car from the Sumoto Interchange. The location also makes it easy to work in sightseeing spots that families enjoy, such as the Uzushio whirlpool cruise, Awaji Farm Park England Hill, Awaji World Park ONOKORO and Awaji Hanasajiki. Note that each of the baby services requires advance reservation - baby food by the day before - so it is best to arrange them when you book. On the Maternity Plan, checkout moves from the usual 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., and plans that come with the "5 Great Perks" extend it to 11 a.m. On other plans, late checkout may be possible depending on availability, so it is worth asking the hotel in advance.