Grand Mercure Wakayama Minabe Resort & Spa, an all-inclusive resort hotel where every guest room offers views of the majestic Pacific Ocean (located in Minabe-cho, Hidaka-gun, Wakayama Prefecture; General Manager: Kazunori Tanaka), received certification as a "Welcome Baby Inn" from Miki House Child Development Research Institute Co., Ltd. on November 19, 2025.
With this certification, the hotel has renovated some of its Superior Twin Ocean View and Classic Twin Family Japanese-Western Style rooms to better accommodate families traveling with babies for their first trips. These upgraded rooms are now offered as Family Superior Twin Ocean View and Standard Family Twin Ocean View rooms, providing enhanced support for families traveling with babies.
About the Welcome Baby Inn Certification
The "Welcome Baby Inn" certification targets accommodations that are committed to improving their facilities and services for guests traveling with infants and young children. Based on maternal opinions and expert research, Miki House Child Development Research Institute has created 100 certification criteria. Their certified inspectors conduct on-site evaluations including overnight stays. Accommodations that score 70 points or higher are certified as a "Welcome Baby Inn."
Welcome Baby Certified Guest Rooms
All certified rooms feature ocean views with spacious layouts of at least 31 square meters, accommodating up to four guests. Each room is equipped with specialized amenities including diaper disposal bins and bed guards, ensuring families with babies and young children can enjoy a comfortable and worry-free stay.
Family Superior Twin Ocean View
These rooms feature modern, comfortable interiors with natural color tones and sophisticated designs. Located on the hotel's upper floors, guests can enjoy panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean while spending quality time with family. Each room includes a baby cot.
Size: 31 square meters
Capacity: 4 guests (including up to 2 co-sleeping children)
Specialized amenities: Baby cot, bottle steam sterilizer and dryer, baby water, wet wipes, hand and mouth wipes, diaper disposal bin, supplementary toilet seat, step stool, baby soap, mat, toys, bed guard, powdered milk, diapers, baby food, children's toothbrush, children's yukata
Standard Family Twin Ocean View
These rooms feature tatami mat space by the window overlooking the Pacific Ocean, providing a safe environment where even crawling babies can comfortably play.
Size: 42 square meters
Capacity: 7 guests (including up to 3 co-sleeping children)
Specialized amenities: Bottle steam sterilizer and dryer, baby water, wet wipes, hand and mouth wipes, diaper disposal bin, supplementary toilet seat, step stool, baby soap, mat, toys, bed guard, powdered milk, diapers, baby food, children's toothbrush, children's yukata
Special Accommodation Plans Celebrating the Welcome Baby Certification
To commemorate the Welcome Baby Inn certification, the hotel is offering two special accommodation plans perfect for babies' first trips, family travel debuts, or special anniversary getaways. In this safe and comfortable environment for families with babies, guests can create irreplaceable memories together.
[Baby's First Trip] Resort Debut Support! Fully Equipped with Baby Goods! Peace of Mind Plan for Parents
This family-oriented accommodation plan includes a stay in a Welcome Baby certified room.
Even for babies' first trips, the hotel provides facilities and an environment with careful attention to comfort and safety, creating a space where families can relax during their first travel experience.
Stay Period: From January 15, 2026 (Thursday) - Year-round
URL: https://grand-mercure-wakayamaminabe-resortandspa.jp/plan/welcome-baby-first-trip-family/
[Welcome Baby Inn Certified] Plan with First Art Experience to Capture Your Child's "Firsts"
This family plan is recommended for special milestone travels such as half birthdays or first birthdays.
The plan includes a stay in a Welcome Baby certified room with a First Art experience, allowing families to preserve memories of their baby's "first trip" and travel "firsts."
The art created with colors chosen by the child themselves, capturing handprints and footprints, becomes a precious record of growth that is truly one-of-a-kind.
Stay Period: January 16, 2026 (Friday) to March 28, 2026 (Saturday) - Friday and Saturday only
URL: https://grand-mercure-wakayamaminabe-resortandspa.jp/plan/welcome-baby-first-art/
Hotel Facilities Enjoyable for the Whole Family
Kids Space
A play area with cushioned mats where children can enjoy toys and books in a relaxed environment.
Location: 1st floor
Hours: 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Foot Bath
A foot bath using Senri Beach hot spring water where guests can relax while viewing the ocean and sunset, providing healing for both body and mind.
Location: Next to parking area
Hours: 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Manga Room
A relaxation space where guests can read their favorite manga and spend time as they please.
Location: 3rd floor
Hours: 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Table Tennis
An activity where families can enjoy light exercise together before or after hot springs and meals.
Location: 3rd floor
Hours: 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Pool (Summer Only)
Enjoy resort vibes at the outdoor pool overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The kids' pool (35cm depth) provides safe play for children.
Location: Outdoor
Hours: Summer season only
Oval pool: 1.3m depth, Circular pool: 35cm depth
Hotel Services Welcoming Babies & Kids
Kids Buffet Corner
The Kids Buffet Corner, designed at a lower height suitable for small children, allows kids to experience the joy of choosing their own food. This dedicated corner features popular menu items and child-sized dishes and utensils.
Free Baby & Kids Equipment Rental
For guests not staying in Welcome Baby certified rooms, the hotel provides various baby and kids equipment to ensure a comfortable stay.
Available equipment: Children's yukata, stroller, baby bath, bed guard, supplementary toilet seat, diaper disposal bin, baby soap, step stool, baby cot
Some items require advance reservation. Rental equipment is available in limited quantities.
Family-Friendly Attractions Near the Hotel
Kometsu Park & Kometsu Beach
This spacious grass park overlooking Kometsu Beach is located right next to the hotel. With well-equipped playground facilities, it's a popular spot for families with children. The park features neatly maintained lawns and cherry trees, making it perfect for cherry blossom viewing and picnics in spring. Adjacent to the park is a beach where visitors can enjoy tide pool exploration.
For more details on family travel in Wakayama Minabe:
https://grand-mercure-wakayamaminabe-resortandspa.jp/lp/kids-and-baby/
About Welcome Baby Inns
Miki House Child Development Research Institute Co., Ltd. launched this certification program in March 2008 to promote the spread of child-friendly facilities. Based on unique certification criteria (100 items total), evaluations are conducted on both hardware aspects such as guest rooms and facilities, and software aspects such as customer service. Accommodations that meet certain standards are certified as "Welcome Baby Inns."
Miki House Child Development Research Institute: https://corp.happy-note.com/
Grand Mercure Wakayama Minabe Resort & Spa
This all-inclusive resort hotel is located in Minabe-cho, central Wakayama Prefecture, Japan's leading ume (plum) production area. Guests can freely enjoy buffet-style breakfast and dinner, alcoholic beverages during dinner, and soft drinks and local confections in the lounge, all included in the accommodation fee. From various locations throughout the hotel, including guest rooms, open-air baths, and the hot spring foot bath, guests can view the magnificent Pacific Ocean landscape and enjoy a resort stay away from daily hustle and bustle.
Address: 348 Ominetomari, Yamauchi, Minabe-cho, Hidaka-gun, Wakayama Prefecture 645-0012
Tel: 03-6627-4732 (Reservation Center)
Access: Approximately 10 minutes by car from JR Minabe Station, approximately 10 minutes by car from Minabe IC
Official Website: https://grand-mercure-wakayamaminabe-resortandspa.jp/
About Grand Mercure
Grand Mercure is a premium brand offering captivating hotel experiences that appeal to travelers' imagination and insatiable spirit of discovery. Launched in the Asia-Pacific region approximately 20 years ago, it now operates around 80 hotels worldwide, integrating local culture and traditions. Flagship hotels include Grand Mercure Mysore in India, Grand Mercure Belém do Pará in Brazil, and Grand Mercure Rio de Janeiro Riocentro in Brazil. With the concept of "Proudly Local," the brand proposes stays where guests can deeply immerse themselves in local culture and customs through distinctive local scents, culinary experiences featuring local ingredients, and other sensory encounters. Grand Mercure is part of Accor, one of the world's leading hospitality groups operating over 5,600 facilities in more than 110 countries, and participates in ALL (Accor Live Limitless), a lifestyle loyalty program offering various benefits, services, and experiences.
About Accor
Based in Paris, France, Accor is a leading hospitality group operating over 5,600 hotels and residences, and more than 10,000 restaurants and bar facilities in 110 countries. From luxury to economy, the group offers approximately 45 hotel brands and, together with Ennismore, extends into the lifestyle sector, operating the most diverse and fully integrated ecosystem in the industry. ALL is a booking platform and loyalty program that provides members with unique experiences promised by the Accor Group during stays and beyond. The group focuses on promoting positive action through business ethics, responsible tourism, sustainable environmental protection, community engagement, diversity, and inclusion. Founded in 1967, Accor is headquartered in France and is listed on Euronext Paris (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and OTC Markets (ticker: ACCYY). For more information, visit https://group.accor.com
*Information current as of December 25, 2025.
*All images are for illustrative purposes.
