Atami SEKAIE

Chef Kouji-san at Sekaie put together the best kaiseki meal we've had in Japan. The food was at a level that could use more Michelin stars than they have. The in-room onsen and spectacular ocean views were hard to beat too. We'll definitely visit again on our next Tokyo trip.

This was my third visit, and I used to be impressed by the onsen and teppanyaki food. This time was really disappointing. The onsen was diluted, despite the hotel's claim of naturally flowing hot spring water, and even without adding water it was much cooler than on my previous visits. The food selection and quality have dropped drastically. The lobster course used to be cooked teppanyaki style, but now it was just lobster soup. The soba was the worst I've ever had, overcooked and soggy, and they no longer serve the tempura that used to come with it. The chef seemed rushed and didn't cook the foie gras long enough for the surface to get crispy. I know that isn't the chef's fault, but I assumed the lobster course was changed to reduce the time spent cooking in front of guests and use lower quality food. It feels like the hotel is cutting costs on service, food, and staff. They replaced the hot towels provided on arrival and during meals with wet tissues. The Western style breakfast option is gone, the beer is downgraded, and there's no hand cream in the room anymore. Everything has gone downhill. Some staff clearly tried hard to serve guests, but I assume company policy led to the deteriorating service and experience. The price has gone up to over 150,000 yen while the food and onsen quality have declined. I'm really disappointed.

The sea view from our corner room was partly blocked by trees, and from the second floor our onsen could be seen from the road. We had to be careful about privacy while bathing. We stayed for two nights, and because one of us doesn't eat meat, they served us the same dinner course both evenings. For what this place costs, I expected more. The negative review from a few months earlier didn't seem overstated.

The included kaiseki dinner and breakfast were delicious, and they adjusted the menu for our allergies and dietary restrictions. Eating with that seaside view made both meals feel special. We had a room with a private onsen and spent a very relaxing night there. The ocean views were lovely from the room and public areas too. Staff spoke English and treated us wonderfully. The team at Atami Sekaie went beyond what we expected. The hotel is only a few minutes by car from Atami station. The shuttle can pick you up or drop you off once a day. We used it for the station, then walked about ten minutes to the seaside. It was an amazing stay, and I'd absolutely recommend it.