A four-star hotel is not normally my type of lodging, nor is a buffet my dining choice, so we almost didn’t book one of the best deals around. The Grand Prince Hotel Hiroshima was close to a location we planned to visit and the higher end lodging was initially for my mother who was originally scheduled to come with us.
I would later rebook for three travelers instead of four and change it to a view room with dinner and breakfast buffet included. Right now and through March 14, 2025, the Grand Prince Hiroshima dinner buffet consists of all-you-can-eat crab and oyster, along with other selections. The breakfast buffet is a pleasant mix of western and Japanese cuisine.
Rather than keep you in suspense, I’ll get to the bottom line first. The hotel room, occupancy 3, cost slightly less than $250 a night inclusive of all taxes and fees. The view was right over the Seto Sea and felt like you were actually in the middle of the ocean. Islands were visible in the distance, along with oyster farms growing the Hiroshima specialty.
The room was a decent size, considering how small some of these Japanese hotel rooms can be. The decor was a bit dated; the hotel itself was built 30 years ago. For us, the one important feature was great there though, a really deep bathtub from which steaming hot water flowed.
The bathtub and water temperature were important because while this hotel has a public bath for the use of guests, there are extra charges for use. (and, we’re not quite native enough to feel comfortable in a giant pool of naked strangers yet). Next to the public bath entrance, is a spacious and well-laid out lounge that is open 24 hours a day. This is where I came to work on my PC or journal when the kids were still asleep in the room.
Before we get to the part about the food, I also wanted to add a quick note about the amenities. It is truly full-service. There is daily housekeeping and at least one English-speaking desk clerk. The hotel also provides a free limo bus to and from the Hiroshima train station. Just outside the gift shop is a dock for a high-speed boat you can book (extra cost) to Miyajima Island. I was incredibly impressed, especially because my cousin had left a bag of snacks for us prior to our arrival and the hotel staff had repacked it in a cloth eco bag for our convenience. Omotenashi at its finest.
So, about the food. The dinner and breakfast buffet is daily. Two meals, and incredible ones at that. The service takes place on the 23rd floor of the hotel, which is surrounded by floor to ceiling windows overlooking the ocean, the mountains and the entire city. The food selection for both dinner and breakfast was enormous.
We stayed over the weekend, and the restaurant was fairly busy. However, as a guest, you just pick a general time 5:30, 6:00 or 7:30pm and your reservation is complete. When you get there, just scan your keycard. For breakfast, no time preference is needed.
My daughter and I love seafood. She loves oysters and I love crab. Guess what our plates looked like? My son is a little allergic to seafood so he went to the steak station where beef was being served. He also had some chicken pasta and pork loin. Non-alcoholic drinks were also included in the buffet: melon soda, hot tea, orange juice, coffee etc.
There were so many dinner choices, it’s hard to describe. I will say that there was a station serving three flavors of gelato and all of us enjoyed that along with the other dessert selections like parfaits, cookies and fruit.
For breakfast, guests have a choice of the full-service Japanese restaurant or the 23rd floor buffet. We never went to the Japanese restaurant largely because we went to the buffet the first day and decided that there wasn’t anything else we could ask for in a breakfast.
Breakfast time may have been the first time I saw foreign tourists at the hotel. The clientele at the Hiroshima Grand Prince seemed to be locals on staycation. It could be because it is a bit off-season: the weather was still too cold for cherry blossoms. It may also explain the availability of well-priced rooms.
In terms of food, the steam trays were full of typical Western food, bacon, sausage, egg, potatoes. pastries and croissants. There was pasta, curry, omelets and more. On the Japanese side of the menu, grilled fish (selection changed daily), natto, miso soup, “temperature egg,” steamed vegetables and a chef making okonomiyaki. There was also this new drink I tried labeled “perilla.” I presume it was shiso, lightly red-tinged. It was delicious! I mixed a small amount of lemonade with it and had a few glasses every day.
At $250 a night, this was the most expensive room we booked during our Japan trip. However, it was hands-down the best value. We will be back and we’ll also be checking out other specials at other Seibu Prince hotels. Apparently, they do this at various sites with changing selections depending on the season and the region.