Taisenkaku

We enjoyed parts of our stay, but the comparison with Kamenoi Hotel Yanagawa, where we had stayed the night before, was hard to avoid. It was a similar price, and we ended up preferring Kamenoi. We've also had a better visit at View Hotel Hesei on an earlier trip to Asakura. Still, the stay wasn't expensive, and we sincerely hope management improves things for future guests. The room had recently been renovated and felt modern and comfortable, though the view was limited compared with the Yanagawa canal. When we were unloading the car, a staff member greeted us and went back inside without helping with the luggage. I understood that we weren't at a five-star hotel. Dinner was the biggest disappointment. We were seated in an area clearly set aside for non-Japanese guests. After studying Japanese for most of my life and enjoying conversations in my broken Japanese, I found that a little offensive. In 20 years of visiting onsens around Japan, I'd never experienced that before. The food itself was fine but not remarkable. We added abalone sashimi and grilled abalone, both delicious, and ordered plenty of sake, so we weren't holding back on spending. That's why it was so surprising to be told we'd have to pay for extra tsukemono to go with the rice, which came at the end with only a few pieces. I can't really eat plain rice without more pickles, and being charged for a supplemental serving felt unlike the hospitality I'd come to expect in Japan. It soured the meal. At the table next to us, two children in a Chinese family watched videos loudly on their phones throughout dinner, wiping out what atmosphere was left. I know it was their parents' responsibility, but I wish staff had stepped in before we felt we had to complain. Breakfast ran for just 90 minutes, from 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM, so the whole hotel seemed to be eating at once. The food was okay, but nothing stood out beyond the long queues.