Luxury Hot Spring Inn Opens Near Izumo Grand Shrine
Izumo Grand Shrine in western Japan's Shimane Prefecture is one of the country's oldest Shinto shrines. It regularly saw more than 6 million visitors a year, but that number was hit hard by the pandemic.
Now, with an eye on winning back big-spending travelers, a major resort operator has opened a hot spring hotel just a few minutes from the attraction.
The new facility, which debuted on Wednesday, is a 15-minute drive from the shrine. It draws couples hoping for good luck in their marriage.
The hotel has 39 guest rooms, starting at about 25,000 yen, or 180 dollars, per person per night. Its operator says all rooms are fully booked until the end of the year.
A company official says: "Izumo Grand Shrine is the most powerful spiritual place in Japan. We think we can combine it with a traditional hot spring experience to create a unique attraction."
The local community hopes the new facility can put the worst days of the pandemic in the past, and help tourism recover.