Miyajima Grand Hotel Arimoto has the makings of a luxury accommodation stay. They have exquisite rooms with open-air baths. They offer luxurious kaiseki course meals. You’d think a solo traveler looking for mid-range budget accommodation on the island of Miyajima would have no business here, but surprisingly, they offer a reasonable package for this type of traveler, too.
Limited Accommodation Options on Miyajima
Staying as a solo traveler on Miyajima can be a bit tricky. Most of the budget-friendly options are off the island, near Miyajimaguchi where you board the ferry. This option would work well for the typical traveler, but since I wanted to make a video travel guide for Miyajima, staying on the island was a must. This left me with luxury onsen ryokans and a hostel that only offers bunk beds for solo travelers to choose from. Luckily, I was able to find Miyajima Grand Hotel Arimoto’s economy plan with a bit of searching. This plans includes a single room, a bento dinner and a bento breakfast that you can eat in your room. For ¥16,000, it’s a little bit more expensive than business hotels, but it comes with additional perks.
Impeccable Omotenashi
Although Miyajima Grand Hotel is just a few minutes’ walk from the port, they offer pick-up and drop-off. I got to the island early in the morning and rang the hotel as soon as I got off the ferry and the van for pick-up came immediately. Because I was still hours away from check-in time, I only asked for the driver to take my luggage to the hotel. Before he left, the driver gave me an illustrated map of the island highlighting the location of the hotel as well as the interesting points to visit. (Unfortunately, a deer snatched this away from me shortly after and ate it.)
Single Room at Miyajima Grand Hotel Arimoto
After check-in, I got into my room, which was a lot more spacious than a typical business hotel. The bed was big and comfy, and beside it, was a big desk and a couch. I especially liked this because I could comfortably write articles and edit my videos during my downtime. The room also included a unit bath with female-friendly amenities (decent shampoo and conditioner), a small fridge, and a small safe for belongings you want extra protection for. The sleepwear provided was a yukata.
The Meals
During check-in, the staff explained the time options available for taking my meals. They deliver the meals to your room at your chosen time.
For the bento dinner, I was given the choice between anago meshi (conger eel on rice) a Miyajima local specialty, and a meal with seasonal local ingredients. I fell in love with anago meshi during my first trip to Miyajima many years ago, so this was the clear choice for me.
Breakfast was continental with bread and an omelet. It was simple but filling.
Guided Tours
One of perks that is not listed on Miyajima Grand Hotel Arimoto’s website is that they offer free guided tours. During my stay, they offered a night tour that takes guests from the hotel to the entrance of Itsukushima Shrine (closed at night) and a morning tour that takes guests on a walk to see fall foliage.
Because I had limited time to spare, I was only able to join the evening tour. It was less than an hour, but it was filled with interesting information. Miyajima gets really dark at night, but it felt safe to go around and explore because I was with a group of people.
Video
Miyajima Grand Hotel Arimoto is featured in this video about Miyajima. The segment starts at 7:02.
A Comfortable Stay
My stay at Miyajima Grand Hotel was comfortable, and for the price I paid, I left feeling like I got more than I paid for. The service was good, the staff was great, and I would easily choose to stay with them again given the chance.
