Beautiful hotel in central location in Atami but various staff problems. Reserved via Rakuten English site for semi double room. They tried to put me in a dormitory room with no door. I had a business call coming and needed privacy. Was ready to return to Tokyo but they finally worked it out. Room was lovely but had no yukata, hair from prior guests on tatami and in sink. Staff was robotic and unfriendly at buffet breakfast, worse on second morning - and I do speak Japanese. Panicked about when to clean the room on the second morning when I said I might stay in the room to do work on computer. Anything out of the ordinary worries them, like staying in spa 2 minutes after 10:30 am morning closing.
There was pouring rain on the second night and only option a dinner buffet for ¥5,000. Asked if I could get food delivery. Robot at front desk told me to use Japanese website for which I needed a password. Nothing but rigamarole. Asked for manager who was professional and helpful and got pizza delivery. Breakfast second morning- staff told me to leave the room while attempting to eat. No clear info about when breakfast ended - later found in small print outside restaurant door- must enter by 9 am and leave by 9:30. Server was robotic.
Lovely mandolin concert by a group second night. Sat alone. Did not feel welcome,
It seems there is coffee and tea in lobby but I was not good about it. Don’t know when it is available.
Wouid not tell me where to find a restaurant. Turns out there’s a Hawaiian coffee shop to the right (they told me there was nothing to the right) and another hotel with cafe to the left. Misinformation and not giving information is the norm for non-Japanese guest it seems.
When I returned to hotel the second afternoon was met at the door by a staff person asking me why I was entering the building. I am Caucasian. I explained that I had checked in the day before and was one of the few non-Japanese guests.
The staff clearly needs training and to understand Japanese hospitality tradition. I can not recommend the hotel to visitors from abroad. It could have been a lovely place to stay- the view is lovely and on Sunday morning there was a beautiful hot air balloon outside the window on the beach. What could have been a memorable visit resulting in future business for them will not be. At least not based on my review.
Too bad. I received recommendations of two other hotels in Atami from Japanese people I met on the trip and will try them or go to a hotel in Kawazu (Gallery Court Ofa Atu) where I have stayed regularly for about 12 years and have taken visitors from abroad, gone with friends from Japan and will continue to go. I feel welcome and enjoy the hot springs there.