SETOUCHI RETREAT by Onko Chishin Reviews

Staying in the hotel is like staying in an art museum. I really like the sunny restaurant. The breakfast and dinner are very exquisite and delicious. The cafe has many Tadao Ando books to read. I highly recommend the sea view room, which directly overlooks the Seto Inland Sea. You can enjoy it early in the morning. Watching the sea slowly grinding beans to make hand-brewed coffee, I really like the coffee beans in the room! ! When I left, I wanted to buy a pack to take away. The service is also great! It’s a perfect travel experience! ♥️

Fantastic experience in one and only architecture masterpiece attached with local delicacies. Aonagi resort is the hidden jewel in Setouchi area, a must go when you visit around Shikoku, or even if you’re considering visiting west Japan broadly. Tadao Ando, a global maestro who has won the Pritzker architecture award has built this unique 7 rooms all suite hotel. Every details has magnificent eye from the architect, and intellectual journey to seek that is already an adventure. The services are that of 5 star hotel in any large city, and the food is just one and only. The sashimi provided to us was very original yet traditional, and the thickness of its cut and focus on details has opened the door for the definition of yellowtail for us. Also very impressed by the passions to detail of the sommelier Imazu. His combination with bottled sparkling tea and Georgian ancient wine paired with traditional Japanese was just a series of wonderful surprises. Definitely a recommend looking forward going again.

If you are looking for a special experience in Japan then book a stay at this wonderful and unique hotels. The building is a stunning architectural mix with the surrounding countryside. The suite we stayed in had two rooms and was a brilliant experience for my family. The staff are very friendly once you can get past their formality :). They are very expert at making you feel like a welcome guest. The Chef is outstanding and without a doubt the best selection Kaiseki menus over the 4 nights we stayed. Every night was a different menu and delicious. Brett was our excellent host bridging the gap with our limited Japanese with perfect English. We loved it and will be back for sure

Prior to staying at a luxury ryokan in Dogo Onsen proper (Bettei Oborozukiyo), we decided to check out Setouchi Retreat Aonagi as a means to relax on site and explore Tadao Ando's creation. While there's creativity and uniqueness in the design and aesthetic of the property, it kind of left us cold.... it's a sea of concrete in our eyes. Yes, there are some interesting nooks and crannies that stirred our senses, large windows everywhere let in an abundance of natural light, and the decor was tastefully minimalistic, it still felt as if we were staying in a museum or a European castle rather than a grand and comfortable home. Something to experience once, but not really a place one craves to return - at least in our minds. And given that it's a 25-minute drive away from Dogo Onsen, you really need to be a big fan of Mr. Ando to spend more than a night here. Everything about the property was done right. Service is attentive and prompt, the food was very good (not top class but still a memorable experience) and the view of the Seto Inland Sea is Instagram-worthy. We were able to book the one and only Aonagi Suite, which has a massive 170 square meters of living space and is Maisonette-style with the living room having a very tall, double-height ceiling with double-height windows, allowing for breathtaking views and tons of natural light in the room. If there's one nit to pick, it's the lack of a real Onsen bath in the room, which is a bummer. And while many luxury properties in Japan provide a communal or rental Onsen facility (or both), here at Aonagi they offer a Pool with a Sauna and an Onsen Jacuzzi that can be privately rented by guests staying there. Some might like the idea of an Onsen jacuzzi, but we did not. The Onsen experience is supposed to be calm, serene and relaxing; a jacuzzi exudes more of a party atmosphere, which doesn't fit well under this concept. Also, while stylish, the pool and jacuzzi feel like being in a (artificially created) dungeon. I would've much preferred something of an open-air variety, to be honest. The other curious aspect of the property is the fact that all guests (other than those staying at the Aonagi Suite) are forced to dine in the main restaurant. Given that it has "Retreat" to its name, and caters to celebrities and the wealthy, I would've thought that Aonagi would offer private dining - if not in one's own room, then at least in private "koshitsu" rooms. We knew this going in, so we were thankful that the Aonagi Suite was available for booking for the date of our intended stay. Dinner was excellent, but how could it not be? Seafood caught in the Seto Inland Sea are world famous in quality, and everything from the local Red Sea Bream, Spanish Mackerel and White Horse Head were fantastic. The executive chef was recently transferred to the property from one of the sister properties (Iki Retreat Kairi Murakami), and still maintains connections to Iki Island that allows him access to amazing fish, namely Lon

This was my second time staying here. I like Ando's architecture and have been to many places such as Naoshima, but here, all the rooms are suites, so it feels like "living in Ando's architecture," and you can spend a very rich time. The sofas, lamps, furniture, slippers, bedding, amenities, etc. in the rooms are carefully selected down to the smallest detail, creating a sophisticated space. And above all, the food is delicious! The service is excellent. Even for those of us who can't drink alcohol (weak), a sommelier is there to help us enjoy pairings. Then I had a spa trea**ent, and although I usually don't sleep much during trea**ent, I fell asleep within 5 minutes of the trea**ent and dozed off throughout the 75-minute trea**ent, which was the most comfortable time. There was a private pool and swimsuits available for rental, and the service was attentive to even the smallest details, so I was able to fully enjoy small luxury. I definitely recommend this place for trips to the Shikoku region!

The location, the interior of the room, the a**osphere of the hotel, the service of the hotel staff, etc. were all very good. The food was a kaiseki with a delicious broth and a gentle taste. I asked for the ultimate pairing. It was my first time having a sommelier choose my alcohol, so it was a good experience. All the alcohol went well with the food and was delicious. What's disappointing: 1. There is no large public bath. There are rooms with open-air baths, and Dogo Onsen is nearby, so it might be good to take a day trip to the baths. 2. Breakfast is only Japanese food. Since it is kaiseki at night, if you stay for several nights, you may want to eat a little bread. The Japanese breakfast is also quite delicious, but...^^; 3. Paid sauna at the pool The sauna is very good. There is no cold bath, but this can be substituted by the shower next to it. However, there is no place to rest. It would be nice if there were a long chair or sunbed nearby. If I'm being greedy, there were a few things I was dissatisfied with, but overall it was very good. I would like to use it again when I come to Ehime (^^)

I stayed at the Aonagi Suite in November. The ceilings are high and it feels very open! I played my favorite music at full volume on Bluetooth and gazed upon the beautiful scenery as it changed, enjoying a luxurious moment of doing absolutely nothing. I also enjoyed the private pool, sauna and jacuzzi bath. The wonderful space was so comfortable that I upgraded my meals and had them served in my room, which was a great decision! The food was also very delicious, and I was constantly surprised and impressed. The serving staff had the perfect sense of distance and timing. I will definitely return at the same time!

I had seen this hotel on TV and wanted to go there once. I heard that it was a former art museum, so I thought, why not go there on a date?! The hotel itself was quiet and very comfortable, and the spa was relaxing and enjoyable. The food was delicious both in the morning and evening, but the crab yuzu simmered in a pot and the grouper dish were superb! I wanted to drink alcohol in the room, so I wish they would expand the room service to include alcohol and food other than wine. I would definitely like to stay here again!

I stayed at the Semi-open-air Onsen Suite Forest View. It's next to the golf course. There's no sign until the entrance, so it's a real hideaway. Not only is it built by Tadao Ando, ​​but it's also a remnant of what used to be a private art museum, and the art is wonderful. The rooms are luxuriously designed, with one room per floor. The semi-open-air bath attached to the room also has a reclining bath, and it was the largest and most comfortable room with an open-air bath I've ever stayed in. The amenities are also perfect. The food was amazing. Dinner was a kaiseki meal using local ingredients, and everything was excellent. The amount and flow were perfect. We were given a pairing of alcohol to go with the kaiseki, and it was really delicious with wine, sake, and sherry. The breakfast was just the right amount and delicious. We rented the private pool, jacuzzi (onsen), and sauna, and had a very luxurious and enjoyable time. I'd definitely like to return. You can see the golf course from the wide balcony. I don't play golf, but I think it would be an even more wonderful experience for couples who do.

I stayed at the semi-open-air hot spring suite for one night. I didn't see any signs on the way to the hotel, so I was a little worried until I arrived, but after passing the Elleair Golf Club, I saw a distinctive building. I arrived a little earlier than the official check-in time, but as soon as my car arrived at the parking lot, a staff member came out to greet me. I checked in while drinking sparkling wine, and the guide was very polite. It was an immediate good impression. The hospitality during my stay was also completely professional, and I thought it was a good hotel, so when I looked up the hotel later, I found out that it is run by Onkochishin (OKCS). I understand. The windows in the rooms are huge, the ceilings are very high, and it is very spacious. The rooms are so spacious that I wondered if the heating would work properly, but there was even floor heating, so it was a little hot. The open-air hot spring bath in the room was also huge, and it was as large as a large public bath in a small inn. The best thing about this hotel is the private pool, which is completely private. It is completely private, including the locker room, and you can even lock it. I was surprised to find that there was even a Bluetooth speaker available for free use at the pool. The jacuzzi is especially recommended as it uses hot spring water. The food was a creative kaiseki meal, but the drink pairing menu was particularly excellent, so I recommend it. The sommelier's conversation skills were also excellent. This is one of the few hotels where a comfortable stay is guaranteed.