Umino Hotel Shimahana

Umino Hotel Shimahana stands on the seafront overlooking the marina at Sumoto Onsen, and is a resort hotel in the Hotel New Awaji Group. In this open setting close to the sea and sky, guests can enjoy both an onsen and the feel of a seaside resort.

The summer highlight for families is the Harborside Pool, a wide-open outdoor pool looking out over the marina, where children can play in the water with the kind of views only a seaside spot offers (summer only).

Dining support is generous, and the range of age-based menus is a real strength. There is baby food (880 yen) that pairs rice porridge and island-carrot puree with fruit and yogurt, a baby lunch (1,320 yen) with a choice of bread or rice balls, and a kids' meal (1,980 yen) of omurice or Hamburg steak. With options that suit everyone from babies to elementary school children, mealtimes are one less thing for parents to worry about.

The baths are onsen. Guests can also enjoy the spa and a bath-hopping experience, and in 2024 new rooms with an onsen open-air bath opened on the top floor. Even families traveling with a very young baby can bathe without having to think about the communal bath if they choose a room with an open-air bath.

There are also options such as dining with a view of the sea and private cruises for staying guests only, so you can spend your time the way you would at a true seaside resort.

Getting here takes about 15 minutes by car from Sumoto IC. Travel options are plentiful, including a rental car you can drop off at the hotel and a helicopter transfer plan that connects to the Kansai area in as little as 25 minutes. Note that the pool operates in summer only and that dining menus may require advance reservation, so it is worth confirming the details when you book.