Hotel Matsushima Taikanso

Overall, the hotel is great. The room is spacious with a nice mountain view. The only downside is that it's close to the train tracks, so you can hear the train at night, which can be a bit noisy. However, the seafood buffet dinner at the hotel is excellent and high quality – highly recommended!

The hotel offers a free shuttle service to and from Matsushima Station and Matsushima Kaigan Station, which was incredibly convenient for me as I wasn't driving. The hotel is situated on a hillside with beautiful views. I booked a sea-view room, but unfortunately, I was assigned to the second floor, which was a bit disappointing. Nevertheless, the hotel's ambiance is very relaxing, and a dip in the outdoor hot spring bath was incredibly soothing.

The large public bath offers a beautiful view. The breakfast and dinner included in the one-night, two-meal package were good. The overall environment is pleasant, and the building, while not new, isn't too old. There's also a free shuttle service to and from the station.

Perfect view over the beautiful bay. The staff service was always nice and accommodating. The food is served buffet-style – a great selection, but no variety even after the third day.

I booked a room on the mountain side, but it was practically a parking lot view. If you care about the view from your room, I recommend booking a sea-side room instead. The seafood buffet for dinner was absolutely delicious.