Fairfield by Marriott Hyogo Awaji Fukura (Minamiawaji, JAPAN)

After making multiple stops across the island of Shikoku, everyone was just happy to be finally checking into our hotel for the night. While the previous hotel accommodations didn't exactly draw rave reviews from the team, tonight’s place should give us a real sense of hope — mostly because it’s a Marriott establishment.

While we were unloading our luggage from the car, we kept looking left and right for bell service, but they were nowhere to be found.

Fairfield by Marriott Hyogo Awaji Fukura is a 4-story hotel on the southern side of Awaji Island. Even with a pretty spacious ground-floor lobby and rest area, the hotel doesn’t have any in-house restaurant. That’s definitely a drawback especially since dining options were far and few between nearby.

As soon as we opened the door into our room, we could immediately sense the comfort and warmth of a cozy, well-designed space.

The interior design was simple yet very user-driven.

Normally, I’m not a fan of having the basin outside the bathroom, but the sliding door positioned behind it completely erased my negative thoughts.

In fact, I found it surprisingly convenient and accessible especially given the small space we had to work with here.

For a room with such a compact floor area, it was genuinely impressive to have a proper shower room, complete with a rainforest shower.

The toilet was located right next to the shower room, keeping everything practical and efficient.

And the best part? These rooms are guaranteed to be quiet. There’s literally nothing nearby, so there’s no noise for disturbance.

For supplies like milk, water, and fruit, there are a couple of family-run market places within walking distance making this hotel a viable option for short stays on the island.

Rating: ❤❤❤❤

Price: ￥￥

Address: 154 Fukurako, Ko-512 Fukura, Minamiawaji, Hyogo, 656-0501, Japan

Tel: +81 (0)799-38-6625

Website: https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/osafi-fairfield-hyogo-awaji-fukura/overview/

WenPu Hotel 常州文璞酒店 (Changzhou, CHINA)

WenPu Hotel (文璞酒店) is a luxury landmark in the heart of Changzhou's Culture Plaza (文化廣場), known for its striking “arch bridge” theme. Opened in 2020, the hotel blends modern design with traditional Jiangnan bridge culture featuring a unique cantilevered structure that serves as a dramatic visual centerpiece in the city’s new cultural and commercial district.

Its location is ideal for exploring the city as it's right besides the Changzhou Library and Art Museum, and only a short walk from Citizens’ Square Metro Station (市民廣場站).

With less than 24 hours in town, choosing WenPu Hotel was an easy decision for us since we wanted to experience Changzhou’s heritage and energy as effortless as possible. That’s why I made this booking the first one for our Jiangnan trip.

When we arrived in Changzhou, it was already around 10pm. Not surprisingly, the lobby wasn’t busy. 

Our room looked almost exactly like the photos online — very spacious, with two comfortable double beds. 

The décor mainly in beige and light wood tones, created a calm and warm atmosphere.

The bathroom was also impressively spacious. Unlike some of the modern designs we’ve seen lately, both the shower area and the toilet are within the main bathroom space.

Shower room

Toilet

This guy didn’t care that it was nearly midnight. He wanted more game time and he wanted it now.

We woke up early the next morning to explore the area around the hotel. Besides the library and museum, Wonder World (藝象天地) — a shopping, dining, and entertainment hub sits directly underneath the hotel. There’s also plenty of open space for kids to run around, making it a great spot to spend a relaxed afternoon.

With Citizens’ Square Metro Station directly connected to Wonder World, we decided to grab lunch there instead to avoid the crowds. More on that later.

Rating: ❤❤❤❤

Price: ¥¥

Address: Building 5, 2 Jinxiu Road, Changzhou Cultural Plaza, Tianning District, Changzhou, China

常州市天宁区锦绣路2号常州文化广场5号楼

Closest Metro Station: Citizens' Square (市民广场)

Tel: +86 (0519) 8567-8888

Map: https://j.map.baidu.com/fa/-ihM

Lacuna 空栖 Spa AVIC City 中航城店 (Shenzhen, CHINA) ❤❤❤❤

After getting all hung up about our first pickleball experience in Shenzhen for some time, we finally nailed it down this weekend. The court turned out to be pretty nice, and the best part is that it’s in the heart of Shenzhen just a very short walk from the subway station. Needless to say, we were already looking into our next game there.

I’ve already lined up an oil spa treatment after the game for all parties concerned. For convenience's sake, the spa was arranged close to our pickleball court to keep travel time to a minimum.

Situated at AVIC City Junshang Shopping Centre (中航城君尚購物中心), Lacuna (空棲) Spa offers spa treatments at reasonable prices. They have several locations across Shenzhen, most of them inside commercial buildings. This branch stood out for its convenient location inside a large shopping mall, which made it much easier to plan for dining and shopping after the treatment.

The spa was pretty small, with fewer than 10 private rooms. We checked in at reception first, and it didn’t take long before we found a package we liked.

The one I chose was a 50-minute oil massage priced at ¥209. After getting changed in my room, I lay down on the bed and waited for my therapist to arrive. Next came a five-minute sound-healing session, where I heard the therapist striking some kind of metal bowl. The resonant sound filled the room and came through to my ears. There was also a faint scent of flowers gently wafting onto my face to complement the sound.

At that point, I was so relaxed I was ready to fall asleep. 😴😴 Then the oil treatment began, with my therapist starting the countdown on the timer.

That was the last thing I remembered before I regained consciousness. ☺️☺️ It was a highly relaxing experience for both my body and mind. As my memory started coming back, I got my kid to pick up from school — thousands of miles away in Hong Kong.

Some snacks and a dessert soup before we settled our bills.

I’ve had a number of massage experiences in Shenzhen, and while this one wasn’t the most prestigious, it definitely represented the best value for money. Full marks to my therapist for applying just the right amount of pressure to my aching body — fatigue from the exercise. The technique, strength, and pressure points were all perfect. Happy times.

Rating: ❤❤❤❤

Price: ¥¥

Address: Shop L105, Level 1 AVIC City Junshang Shopping Centre, Futian district, Guangzhou, China

深圳市福田区华强北街道华富路1018号中航城君尚购物中心1层1号L105

Closest Metro Station: Huaquiangbei (华强北)

Tel: +86 15302794272

Opening Hours: 11:00am - 11:00pm daily

Map: https://j.map.baidu.com/d0/vtMM

Young Song Foot Reflexology Centre Xinyi 不老松足湯台北信義行館 (Taipei, TAIWAN) ❤❤❤❤

Right before my trip, V told me to keep an eye on a massage place called Yong Song Foot Reflexology Centre (不老松足湯). I decided to look it up on Google Maps and discovered that they have several locations across Taipei, including one on Xinyi Road Section 3 (信義路三段), just a short walk from my hotel. Since I still had another hour before dinner, it made perfect sense for me to head over immediately after my sweet treat at 1789 Café Pâtisserie by Cyrille Courant.

Once I stepped through the doors, there was no turning back! The shortest treatment they offered was a 40-minute foot massage session with a complimentary 10-minute shoulder massage. For NT$800, that’s not bad at all.

I sorted everything out with the staff at the reception desk, and they promptly asked me to wait in front of the changing room. It didn’t take long for someone to call my name. 

Next, I slipped into something comfortable provided by the shop and was asked by my masseur to enter the foot bath area.

There were a lot of people enjoying a traditional Chinese foot bath at the same time. I thought I murmured a few words about “milk” when I was asked to choose from one of the four foot baths available. With my limited Mandarin, that was the only option I could fully understand. 😂😂

The foot bath took less than five minutes, and soon I was escorted to a kind of living room with 10+ sofas. My masseur asked me to settle down and get comfortable while he prepared the towels.

The towel station must have been close, as he returned almost immediately, and that’s where my relaxation truly began. I almost fell asleep a couple of times but remained semi-conscious because I was sitting in the middle of a large living room. If I had been inside a private room, I swear I would have been snoring like a pig.

That was the quickest fifty minutes of my life, and before I knew it, my young masseur alerted me that time was up. I thanked him for the wonderful massage and quickly got changed. Geez, I was already ten minutes late for my dinner and counting…

After settling my bill, I was directed to the dining area, where a small dessert and tea quietly awaited me. I rushed through this before finding my masseur to give him a small tip. I told him that he had provided a very refreshing massage experience. He acknowledged it with a small chuckle on his face. Man, I wouldn’t mind meeting him once a week if this place were in Hong Kong rather than Taipei.

That was my first massage experience in Taipei in a long time, and I’m glad I did it. I had requested a female masseur before the treatment (due to some bad experiences in the past), but in the end, I was so glad they introduced me to my ‘new friend.’ That was exactly what I told him before I left the building. You’re my new friend in Taipei, and I will come see you whenever I visit Taipei in the future. 😊😊

All the prices for different packages below.....if I read it correctly, they're open 24 hours a day. Reservations by phone.

Rating: ❤❤❤❤

Price: $$$

Address: Section 3, 153 Xinyi Road, Da'an District, Taipei, Taiwan

Closest Metro Station: Da'an

Tel: +886 2-2706-5333

Website: https://youngsong.com.tw/

Opening Hours: 24 hours

EPISODE Daan Taipei — JDV by Hyatt (Taipei, TAIWAN)

I had a so-so stay at Kimpton Da An Hotel (台北金普頓大安酒店) last time I was in Taipei so while I wanted to stay within Da'an district again, I decided to search for another accommodation option. And the reasonably new EPISODE Daan Taipei - JDV by Hyatt worked out perfectly for me.

Situated right across the street from Far Eastern SOGO Taipei Fuxing Store (遠東SOGO 台北復興館), EPISODE Daan Taipei embraces a "Less but Better" philosophy. With its retro-modern interior, music-themed décor, and intuitive self-service check-in.

The property includes The SOCIAL by Lay Low on the 5th floor (lobby floor), a multi-purpose social space and bar that also operates as a breakfast hall for hotel guests in the morning. 

The moment I pushed open the door, I knew I was going to fall in love this place.

The interiors are a perfect blend of vintage aesthetics and modern living. Think nostalgic textures paired with contemporary comfort. It's clear that every design detail was chosen with intention — and with the guest in mind.

All guest rooms are fitted with premium Sealy mattresses, ensuring a restful night’s sleep. 

The open-concept bathrooms adopt a modern, minimalist layout with smooth sliding doors.

The bathroom wasn't the biggest but was thoughtfully designed, offering both function and style.

As is typical in many Taipei hotels, the toilet and shower sit side by side.

Separated by sleek glass partitions for a clean, airy feel.

For a hotel known for its music theme, a throw-back CD player is a must!

Small touches like the "sleeping kit", which includes an eye mask and pillow spray, further underscore the thoughtful hospitality.

My room offered a lovely city view overlooking the vibrant Da’an District.

With the Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT Station just a quick 3-minute walk away, exploring the city couldn’t be easier. Needless to say, I will be back for my next stay.

Rating: ❤❤❤❤

Price: $$$

Address: No.219-2, Section 1, Fuxing South Road, Da’an District, 106 Taipei, Taiwan

Closest Metro Station: Da'an

Tel: +886 2-2711-7268

Website: https://www.hyatt.com/jdv-by-hyatt/en-US/tpejd-jdv-episode-daan-taipei

OND Hotel (Takeo, JAPAN)

After spending the night in Saga City (佐賀), it was time to head to our next destination — Takeo (武雄), a quiet, historic onsen town just north of Ureshino. With no fixed agenda for the day, we decided to check into our hotel first before driving out to explore the town’s famous onsen gate (武雄温泉楼).

OND Hotel is a modern onsen‑ and sauna‑focused property located in Takeo, an area renowned for its long‑standing hot spring heritage. The hotel presents itself as a “well‑being retreat,” inviting guests to fully immerse themselves in its in‑house facilities, which include a spa, sauna rooms, two restaurants, and more.

Unfortunately, when we arrived at the hotel entrance, there was no bell service available, so we had to attend to our own luggage. Until, at the very last minute, a lady appeared with a trolley to assist us.

At the front desk, we were asked to settle into the spacious (and notably quiet) hotel lobby while the staff handled the paperwork for our check‑in.

We had booked two twin‑bed rooms, and they were exactly as presented on the booking websites: spacious, clean, and modern in design. I particularly loved the extensive use of wood and the simple furnishings, which created a warm and homely atmosphere.

Sometimes, less is more.

Our rooms were located on the ground floor, so not surprisingly, there was no view from the window apart from the nearby woods.

The bathroom was bright and welcoming — something I always appreciate. I have never been a fan of dark‑toned bathrooms; the last thing I want is to feel sleepy while taking a shower.

Two months ago, shortly after confirming our reservations, we were offered a hassle‑free dine‑in option at the hotel’s sumiyaki restaurant, also located on the ground floor. As there were no great dining options in town, we gladly accepted the offer without hesitation.

Overall, we had a very pleasant stay. Unfortunately, the check‑out experience left a rather bad taste in the mouth and nearly ruined my mood for the rest of the day. When the time comes, perhaps I will share more on that experience here later.

Rating: ❤❤❤❤

Price: ￥￥￥

Address: 18091 Takeocho Oaza Nagashima, Takeo, Saga 843-0021, Japan

Tel: +81 (0)954-27-8588

Website: http://www.ondhotel.jp/