I stayed at KAI Ito for two nights for a long overdue and precious family reunion. It seems that a good chunk of their guests stay for just one night, but we stayed two, because we traveled far to get there. First night was fine (acceptable for what they charge), but the second day was disappointing. Beware. They are NOT geared for Renpaku (continuous stays)! 1. We declined room cleaning (e.g. no vacuuming) after the first night, but they said they would refresh amenities (new towels, etc.) We got fresh towels, but they left used tea cups and glasses uncleaned. We had to call to replenish toilet papers. I had to go to the front desk, because the fresh yukata (bath robes) they gave me was of wrong size. They didn't replenish drinking water. All in all, we had to call at least four times to get everything right for the second night. This would be okay for a basic business hotel, but we were staying in a fine resort.... 2. We followed a recommendation from our nakai-san (person assigned to take care of us) to take a bus to Mt. Ohmuro and take a lift up to the top for a ”spectacular view of Izumo Peninsula.” It turned out this lift had been shut down for at least a week for a two-week repair, and we learned about it at the bus station (there was a tiny sign in Japanese about the closure). I told a lady at the front desk about the closure, but the reaction I got was a curt ”Oh, excuse us.” I also mentioned we were able to find another nice place to visit, and she said, ”That's nice.” I wasn't sure if this lady would share the info with others, so they would stop giving wrong advice to more guests.... 3. Meals are highlights of a stay at a Japanese resort, but KAI didn't make an effort to serve a different menu on the second night. The meal was very similar to the first night with only minor variations. It was different from our experiences at other fine resorts in Japan (including another Hoshino resort.) There was also a bunch of other things that made us wonder about this place (too minor to remember but bothersome in their entirety). By the checkout time, everyone in our party was just ready to go. Instead of enjoying hospitality, I felt I was being forced to accommodate the way they wanted to run their place. Again, okay for a basic hotel but way below expectations for a place like KAI.
The hotel is located right opposite to a memorial park for WIlliam Adams / Anjin, who was someone significant to Japanese history. His stories were told every night at the hotel to let the guests know more about him. The hotel was cruise ship-themed because of this too. Interesting design and cozy rooms. Both breakfast and dinner were included in the booking and the food was up to standard. What's valued most was their friendly and attentive staff. Their hospitality made our stay pleasant. In particular, one of the staff at the restaurant 高木 was very friendly, professional and attentive to details. We were travelling with our 14-month old toddler who was a bit upset and cried loudly during dinner. Sadly and ridiculously, we were complained by another group of hotel guests who shared the same dining room with us. They told the staff that our toddler was VERY DISTRUBING (and wished us to mute him like we could magically do it with a button) but ironically, they talked so loudly among themselves that I could hear their conversation loud and clear throughout the dinner. The way Ms 高木 handled their complaint was very professional. We highly appreciated her efforts, friendliness and understanding towards our kids.
訪訪客I am not exaggerating when I say this is the greatest place I have ever been in my life. A friend recommended Hanafubuki to me, and I have made a point to tell everyone I know about it. The below is long, but worth reading I promise! It's located a ways outside of Tokyo on the Ito Peninsula, and there were almost no other tourists there. Half of the guests staying there were themselves Japanese. It was very nice as a reprieve from the bustle of Tokyo. The grounds themselves are gorgeous, like out of a storybook, the onsen hotsprings are amazing (but very hot!) and there is no time limit to use them. They each have a light outside that will be on if they are in use, so it's very easy to tell which are available. They are also private, so if you are with the other gender or have tattoos you can still use them, unlike some of the public onsens in Japan. We chose to stay in a traditional Japanese-style room, which involves sleeping on tatami mats on the ground. This was much more comfortable than I expected! The food was amazing, I still cannot believe that much food was included in the nightly price. The price included a delicious and very hearty breakfast (we chose the European-style, but there is also Japanese-style with fish) and a Kaiseki dinner, which is a traditional Japanese meal with around 10 courses. It was a tremendous amount of food but also the presentation was stunning and it tasted like we'd paid $200 for the meal. We still can't get over how wonderful it was. I also got a massage, which was one of the best massages I've ever had. The staff in general was incredibly kind and hospitable. Since this is located outside of Tokyo, be prepared that not everyone speaks English but it wasn't an issue at all and they were all lovely. You can stay here all day without leaving and be perfectly happy, but there is also a nice hike to a suspension bridge by the ocean nearby, as well as a teddy bear museum! We live in California but would come back here as soon as we are physically able to. 10/10.