Hi! I’m Joe.
Since its rebrand opening in 2024, the luxurious “all-inclusive” Grand Mercure brand has been the talk of the town. Among them, “Grand Mercure Ise-Shima Resort & Spa,” wrapped in the calm blue of Matoya Bay, is a special hotel that elevates an adult getaway.
But while considering a booking, I bet many of you are thinking this, frankly:
- “The rates aren’t cheap, but will the drinks and buffet actually be satisfying?”
- “It’s a rebrand of a long-established hotel, but how are the facilities and the age, really?”
To get straight to the point, for people who “love drinking,” “want to quietly gaze at the sea and refresh,” or “want to relax luxuriously in a hot spring lounge,” this is one of the best-value hotels in the Ise-Shima area.
In this article, based on my latest stay, I give a thorough, “no-holds-barred” review, from the lounge’s all-you-can-drink menu to the buffet unique to Ise-Shima and the blissful time after a hot spring bath.
If you don’t want to make a mistake, please use this as a reference before booking.
- The appeal of Grand Mercure Ise-Shima Resort & Spa
- [Check-in] Smooth reception and a guide to the hotel
- [Evening treat] The “lounge” open to all guests
- [Hot spring] Rock open-air bath “Shin-Misato Onsen” and a luxurious hot spring lounge
- [Buffet] A gorgeous buffet to enjoy the flavors of Mie to the fullest
- The ideal base for Ise-Shima sightseeing! A top-value all-inclusive inn
The appeal of Grand Mercure Ise-Shima Resort & Spa
“Grand Mercure Ise-Shima Resort & Spa” sits in Shima City, Mie Prefecture, embraced by the beautiful scenery of the ria coastline.
The former Royal Hotel Ise-Shima underwent a dramatic rebrand in April 2024 as a premium brand of the global hotel chain Accor.
With good access to major sightseeing spots like Ise Grand Shrine and Shima Spain Village, it’s the resort hotel getting the most attention right now as a new base for Ise-Shima sightseeing!
April 2024 rebrand! The luxurious world of “all-inclusive”
The hotel’s biggest highlight is, above all, its luxurious “all-inclusive” stay style.
Alcohol, soft drinks, and snacks at the lounge, of course, plus dinner and breakfast at the gorgeous buffet restaurant, and even services at the hot spring bath and the post-bath lounge: everything is included in the room rate.
From the moment you check in, enjoy whatever you like, whenever you like, as much as you like, without worrying about your wallet.
A truly blissful time awaits here, for adults who want to forget the busyness of everyday life, and for the whole family too.
A hilltop location with sweeping views of Matoya Bay
The hotel stands on a green hilltop overlooking “Matoya Bay”, known for pearl farming.
(Photo taken from the room where I actually stayed)
Outside the lobby and room windows spreads a panorama full of Ise-Shima charm, woven from cultivation rafts floating on the calm sea and the red “Matoya Bay Bridge” standing out against the blue water.
The sea glittering in the morning sun and the gradient of the sky at dusk are especially beautiful, enough to leave you speechless.
[Check-in] Smooth reception and a guide to the hotel
Now, let me report the details of “Grand Mercure Ise-Shima Resort & Spa,” where I stayed this time!
This time, after visiting Ise Grand Shrine, I headed straight to the hotel by car.
I followed the car navigation, but the road was quite a mountain road.
Gazing at the deep green outside the window, I was frankly a little worried, wondering “Is there really a resort hotel up ahead…?” (lol)
But the moment I passed through the mountains and the view suddenly opened up, a big hotel appeared, standing solidly on the hilltop, and my excitement shot up at once!
For hotel guests, parking is free!
Checking in at the airy lobby
As soon as you step inside, the first thing that catches your eye is the luxurious lobby floor, polished until it reflects the light.
Beautiful flowers were arranged in front, and the atrium staircase and modern lighting instantly lifted the extraordinary resort mood!!
The front desk is striking, with wavy white-based wall design. It’s a refined space where traditional Japanese beauty and a modern sense fuse, recalling the calm waves of Ise-Shima.
Since I arrived early this time, I was able to check in very smoothly.
The staff were polite too, explaining how to use the all-inclusive service and the hotel’s facilities clearly.
A spot to stop by before heading to your room is the “yukata corner” in the lobby.
Free-size yukata are already prepared in the room, but for children’s sizes and larger sizes, you freely choose a yukata that fits you and take it with you.
[Guest room] Ocean view recommended! A relaxing guest room
With the amenities and yukata in hand, I took the elevator to the floor with my room.
The moment I stepped out of the elevator, the view from the window in the hall made me stop in my tracks.
There it was: a panorama of the calm blue of Matoya Bay with the vivid red “Matoya Bay Bridge” standing out against it!
Being able to enjoy this magnificent view even before entering the room made my expectations grow even more.
This sense of openness is exactly the real pleasure of Grand Mercure Ise-Shima, perched on a hilltop.
Introducing the “ocean view” room overlooking Matoya Bay and the red steel bridge
This time I stayed in Room 643, and as always I had to walk quite a way down the corridor after leaving the elevator.
The room is a Japanese-Western style room that combines a Western-style area with two beds and a spacious tatami space to relax in.
Because it was renovated along with the rebrand, it was unified in a modern interior that doesn’t feel dated!
On the tatami are big, comfortable cushions, a perfect space to stretch out your legs and relax. Plenty of light pours in from the window side, making it bright and open.
Two low-type beds are placed side by side directly on the tatami.
Because the height is kept low, the room looks spacious without losing the openness unique to a Japanese-style room.
The thick mattresses have a pleasant bounce and gently wrap up a body tired from Ise sightseeing!
Around the TV in the room, things are compact and functional so as not to spoil the atmosphere of a Japanese-style room.
- TV: Set at a height just right for watching while seated in the tatami area. It’s a bit small, though, which is a shame.
- Air purifier: Every room has a Sharp Plasmacluster air purifier. It’s a welcome touch that keeps the humidity and air comfortable even in a hotel room that tends to be dry.
- Tea set and kettle: Next to the TV, a kettle and teacups are prepared so you can quickly make a hot drink.
Looking around the room from another angle, you’re surprised all over again by how spacious and open it feels.
One interesting item in the room was the clear empty bottle placed on top of the refrigerator.
Instead of plastic bottles of water, Grand Mercure uses a style where you take this bottle to the water server in the elevator hall to fill it with water.
On the low table is a tea set, and of course green tea and hojicha tea bags are also provided.
How clean is the plumbing area? Washbasin, toilet and bath
The room’s bath and toilet are a compact unit-bath type.
The bathroom has a deep tub so you can soak and relax even in the room, and the toilet comes with a clean warm-water bidet seat.
Since the hotel has a spacious public bath, the room’s bathroom will mainly be for when you want a quick wash or to get ready in the morning.
The provided bath amenities are Orange Rose (Orange Rosé) in four types: shampoo, conditioner, body soap, and hand soap.
Every Grand Mercure hotel seems to use the same amenities.
[Evening treat] The “lounge” open to all guests
The “lounge” that opens up when you go toward the back right of the front desk is the place where you first feel the real pleasure of all-inclusive.
A toast right after check-in! Sparkling wine and beer are free
An ice-cold draft beer server is installed, and you can enjoy it freely from 14:30 to 18:00!
Besides beer, barrel sparkling wine “Pole Star” is also available, and one refreshing fizzy glass soothes the fatigue of travel!
Red and white wine are also on standby.
They’re served ice-cold, and it’s nice that you can pour at your own pace.
Pre-dinner tea time with local famous sweets and snacks!
Next to the drink counter are snacks that go perfectly with alcohol!
Three types, “salted fava beans,” “tortilla chips,” and “mustard-mayo giant corn,” are lined up in clean dedicated cases.
[After dinner] A nightcap of whisky or shochu for a grown-up moment
The lounge after dinner is a must too.
It’s open until 23:00, and for whisky and gin, whiskies such as “Ballantine’s” and “Four Roses,” plus the Japanese gin “Sui,” are on standby.
Among the liqueurs are the fragrant “DITA,” plus cassis, Campari, and more.
Combining them with soda water or tonic water to make cocktails at your preferred strength is the most fun part!
[Hot spring] Rock open-air bath “Shin-Misato Onsen” and a luxurious hot spring lounge
After a rest in the room, head to the hotel’s “Shin-Misato Onsen.”
The hot spring lounge on the first basement floor, in contrast to the bright lobby, is a chic, calm space with dimmed lighting.
Mercure’s sauna with real commitment
You might think the hot spring is the main attraction, but the sauna here is seriously committed.
After the 2024 renovation, the room is a clean space filled with the scent of hinoki cypress.
The temperature reads around 90–96℃, and the humidity is low, a dry “strong style.”
It has an L-shaped two-tier layout, and if you sit on the upper tier you’re guaranteed to pour sweat.
It’s a high-quality sauna room that holds its own against dedicated sauna facilities. A cold plunge is properly provided too.
Public bath and open-air bath of “Choju no Yu” (Longevity Bath), soothing and spacious
The modern, calm indoor bath has a very spacious design.
In a space gently lit by indirect lighting, you can soak slowly and ease away the fatigue of travel.
The open-air bath has a charming design surrounded by large rocks.
Feeling Shima’s pleasant breeze all over, you can savor an extraordinary moment.
A post-bath treat! The hot spring lounge stocked with ice cream
After the bath, relax in the hot spring lounge.
A water server is installed in the lounge, and you can freely drink cold, delicious water, welcome for a dry body after the sauna or a bath.
What you absolutely can’t miss is the time after dinner. Only from 20:00 to 22:00, the hot spring lounge transforms into a gorgeous dessert spot.
Mini Yukimi Daifuku, frozen mandarin oranges, and frozen grapes are prepared.
Yukimi Daifuku is of course the big hit! The mini size in particular is hugely popular, and the chewy texture and cold ice cream soak into a body fresh from the bath.
In a separate room are luxurious lounge chairs arranged to face fantastical art.
Side tables are also provided, so you can enjoy the luxury of doing nothing, just staring at the view with a drink in hand!!
[Buffet] A gorgeous buffet to enjoy the flavors of Mie to the fullest
Meals, both morning and evening, are buffet style in a spacious restaurant. Since it’s all-inclusive, alcohol at dinner is also free-flow (free) of course.
Dinner buffet: live kitchen and Mie local dishes
The restaurant hall is very spacious, a modern, clean space.
The food counters are neatly lined up, raising my expectations for the buffet.
Matsusaka beef gyunabe.
The aroma of red miso whets the appetite. Generously cut Matsusaka beef is piled in, and it’s a dish where you’ll want to drink down even the broth that has soaked up the meat’s umami.
Abalone and local seafood bouillabaisse.
It luxuriously uses a whole abalone, simmered with plenty of local seafood such as shrimp and shellfish.
The soup, with the umami of the seafood melted into it, has deep richness and a lingering finish, and with each sip the scent of the shore fills your mouth.
A customizable bonito burger made by sandwiching freshly fried, crispy “bonito fry” in a fluffy bun with shredded cabbage.
A welcome dish that lets you enjoy local ingredients casually.
A colorful local sushi corner.
Mie’s representative fisherman’s meal Katsuo no Tekone Sushi (hand-mixed bonito sushi) scented with aosa seaweed, Saba no Mehari Zushi (mackerel mehari sushi), a simple yet flavorful dish of carefully wrapped vinegared rice, and Salmon Oshizushi (pressed salmon sushi), popular across generations for its showy look.
Super-fresh tuna.
The diced tuna has a satisfying bite, and besides eating it as is, you can also top rice with it to make your own seafood bowl!!
Alcohol is all-you-can-drink at dinner too.
Starting with Mie local sake such as “Hachibei” and “Zaku,” real shochu, whisky, plum wine, and wine line up in rows.
Breakfast buffet: a “customizable” breakfast to brighten your day
Breakfast is a buffet just like the dinner venue.
There are plenty of seats, so surprisingly it wasn’t crowded.
You can also enjoy “Ise udon,” Mie’s representative soul food, in self-serve style.
It’s the authentic taste: thick, soft, distinctive noodles tossed in a rich, sweet-savory tamari soy sauce!!
Self-serve eggs Benedict that you assemble freely from English muffins, poached eggs, smoked salmon, and a rich carbonara sauce.
Shirasu (whitebait) from local Toba is prepared in plentiful small bowls.
I recommend making your very own “shirasu bowl,” piled on white rice or combined with grated yam.
Arrange a little at a time on your plate, centering on fluffy omelets and fresh salad, and you’ve got a breakfast that’s perfect in looks and nutrition.
Charge up your energy for the day at a leisurely pace in the spacious, clean hall!!
The ideal base for Ise-Shima sightseeing! A top-value all-inclusive inn
What I felt through this stay is that this is not just a place to sleep, but one with a satisfaction level where “the trip is completed just inside the hotel”!
Let me sum up a few reasons I felt that way.
- Surprising cost performance: Beer and sparkling wine in the lounge, local sake and whisky at dinner, even ice cream after the bath. The benefit of all-inclusive, with all of this included in the room rate, is amazing.
- Savor the gastronomy of Mie: Being able to freely enjoy local luxury ingredients and regional dishes in buffet style, such as “Matsusaka beef gyunabe,” “abalone bouillabaisse,” and breakfast’s “Toba shirasu,” is truly a luxury only treasure-trove-of-gastronomy Mie can offer.
- A full course of “sauna bliss”: After refreshing in the clean public bath and sauna, you can spend time emptying your mind in the fantastical lounge. It’s also nice for sauna fans that a blissful hydration environment is in place.
- Convenience as a sightseeing base: The spacious interior, surrounded by Ise-Shima’s rich nature, has good access to Ise Grand Shrine, Okage Yokocho, Shima Spain Village and more, a perfect location as a sightseeing base.
Of course for drinkers, but also for family trips and treat-yourself stays. It was truly the best-value inn where you sincerely think “I want to stay here again next time.”
When you visit Ise-Shima, please do experience this luxurious time!
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