THE BLESS Awaji

We visited for my grandmother’s birthday.It’s newly opened and very clean, and even though we were staying at a Hotel, the food was better than many restaurants—we were truly impressed. When we mentioned it was her birthday, they brought flowers and shared lots of sightseeing recommendations. The service was excellent, and the amenities were high-quality and thoughtfully selected, which made our stay even better.It was my first time trying a magma sauna, so I was curious. I don’t like regular saunas because the dry heat is uncomfortable for me, but this sauna had steam as well despite being hot, so it was very easy to use—I went in three times.It seems you can make a Reservation for just the restaurant without staying overnight, so I’d like to visit again when I’m in the area.

I was amazed to learn that this beautiful space was originally a 65-year-old Ryokan.But it wasn’t just the building that surprised me—it was what arrived on the plate. A simple dish of vegetables from their own farm, grilled over a wood fire, was every bit as delicious as what you’d find at Tokyo’s top restaurants.Now I understand what “cuisine that lets the ingredients speak” really means.Watching the open-kitchen performance was also great fun, and I had a truly happy time.¥20,000 for this level of quality is a bargain. I’ll be back!