We absolutely loved our stay at the Gardenvilla Shirahama. The staff were incredibly friendly (and spoke very good english). The facilities, including two different outdoor onsen, a pool, and a lovely lounge were tranquil places to recover and recuperate from 2 weeks of travel. The first night, we realized that we had to book the BBQ dinner at least 1 day in advance, and took the recommendation for a nearby restaurant. The restaurant (Ueno Yamitae) was one of our favorite meals during our entire 3 week trip in Japan. The next day we rented e-bikes from the Gardenvilla Shirahama and explored Shimoda and the surrounding area before retiring to the hotel for the outdoor BBQ dinner, drinks in the hotel lounge, and a soak in their lovely outdoor onsen. It was one of the best days of our entire trip.

We had a wonderful 3 night stay at this gorgeous boutique hotel, to celebrate our silver anniversary. Quite simply it surpassed all our expectations - whilst the rooms are slightly tired, in need of fresh coat paint, new carpet etc, the decor is classy and timeless and rooms very clean. The bed was large and comfortable and the view from the room breathtaking. The day started with a scrumptious hot breakfast, consisting of warm bread rolls, yoghurt, eggs, fresh fruit, coffee and juice and then when you thought you couldn't possibly eat any more, freshly made pancakes are brought to your day. Like the sea view apartments, the dining room/bar also has stunning ocean views. The day ended with a private open air bath....really it doesn't get much better - sheer bliss. The hotel owners/employers were charming and accommodating and seem like genuinely good people who enjoy what they do. They should be very proud of the quality of service they provide. We were also grateful that we could communicate in English which was very helpful to us. Free parking and WiFi also available. Thank you for a wonderful stay, we will no doubt see you again.

We had an amazing time here. The owners and staff are exceptionally friendly and helpful. Views from the patio and pool are spectacular and facilities include complimentary onsen overlooking the sea. E-bikes can be rented on site and many attractions can be reached this way. It is possible to prebook an exceptional 5 course Japanese meal in the on site restaurant, the best food we have had in Japan, as well as eating at a cook your own Bbq restaurant next door. Every evening the poolside bar serves very reasonable drinks and guests can relax and mingle. Highly recommended. We will definitely return.

Breakfast, the view, and the onsen. The staff also went out of their way to make our stay comfortable, and even sent us to the train station when we checked out. We are not breakfast people, and always overslept the breakfast timing, but we looked forward, in a way, to receiving the breakfast call every morning. Also, there is a really nice BBQ restaurant attached to the hotel, with fantastic views, fresh seafood/meat, and a really good drink plan.

The bed was too soft for us. I wish there were firmer mattress, and a traditional Japanese bedding option.

It was a 5-10 min walk to the beach. the view from the infinity pool was spectacular same with the two open air baths which can use for free. The rooms are all clean, the fact that they dont let you wear your outside shoes inside the hotel was a plus for me even if its a little inconvenience when you need to go out real quick. The staff were all awesome.

the only thing I would say is that the lower open air bath has alot of floating insects and needs cleaning. also you can see cracks/spaces from the wall and door inside the onsen. so it sort of made me uncomfortable that someone might be looking.

This place is exceptional. The staff are all wonderful and kind. They made us feel welcome from the first moment we arrived. The rooms are lovely with a sea view that is just gorgeous! The breakfast was excellent, with lots of nice taste treats! There’s a bus stop going to either Shirahama Beach or into Shimoda very close by (1-2 minutes walk). There’s a swimming pool, bar and an onsen on site. This place just can’t be faulted!

I don’t think I can do Gardenvilla justice with my words. I love this hotel so much and the people that work here. firstly the outlook - wowee, this is so beautiful. the new pool is awesome! we swam a lot even though it was quite cold still in May. a short walk to the two best beaches around where we swam too. also - we hired the bikes which were so good, we rode about 50km in one day on them. the meals - omg, the best we had in Japan - do yourself a favour and get the dinner one night at least and the brekkie yum yum. finally - just wanted to send a big thank you to the beautiful people who run this place. thank you for looking after our honeymoon celebration. Scott

We loved the swimming pool overlooking the ocean. Our room was clean and the view was lovely. We enjoyed the outdoor bath, and the BBQ restaurant that is right next door (unfortunately they are doing some expansion/ construction right now, so the area wasn't as scenic). Breakfast was delicious. We were able to walk to the beach pretty easily: downhill about ten minutes to Shirahama Beach (lots of surfers). We also walked 20 minutes to Sotoura Beach the other direction.

The bedding could have been more comfortable, and the room was quite small. The outdoor pool area seemed to be undergoing some construction, so there were unfinished deck materials out.

The property is in a lovely location, with a beautiful swimming pool and a few minutes' walk to stunning Shirahama beach. The staff were all so friendly, kind and thoughtful. The breakfast was spectacular. There are two outdoor baths with lovely views that can be booked for private use. We had a wonderful time.

Nothing to do with the property but there aren't many places to eat within walking distance. There is a convenience store just a few minutes walk away. Just be prepared to plan ahead if not eating at the property.

Beautiful view, lovely property, excellent pool, great breakfast, peaceful onsen, and easy walk to Shirahama Beach. Rooms were well air conditioned and equipped, despite the smaller size.

If you wanted to be close to Shimoda, it was an hour walking distance (but there is a safe sidewalk path to use). It is a quick 8-10 minute drive and there are taxi options available if you do not have a car, that being said. Additionally, some guests may have trouble in the smaller bathrooms (we found them adequate).