Chateraise Lodge Atami

I used a Châteraisé coupon for my stay. The room was roomy, with a large bed and balcony, and a nice view over the city. I received a snack set, and only later realized I hadn't researched the three kinds of free ice cream. The downsides were the location and shared facilities. The hill is very steep, difficult with kids and suitcases, and there are no nearby convenience stores, supermarkets, or restaurants. You have to go down to Atami Station, where shops also close fairly early. The bathroom and toilet are shared, and the gender-separated baths may not be available when you want them. There's no parking; the nearest lot is about 500m away, and the route involves hills.

The coastal view from the room is breathtaking, and the welcome sweets are a nice touch. Toothbrushes and towels are provided, but you'll need to bring your own loungewear. Free ice cream is in the dining room freezer on B1, though if other guests get there first, you may have to wait for it to be restocked. At night, trains passing through Atami Station and the station announcements are quite loud, so light sleepers may struggle. As for the hills others mention, I don't think a healthy person would need a taxi for a climb like that.

The one star is mainly because I was so excited about the all-you-can-eat ice cream, but only got to have two during my stay. I should've picked somewhere else for my trip to Atami. The inn sits partway up a very steep hill from the station, so anyone concerned about their fitness may want a taxi. It looked like a nice spot to see Atami's fireworks, and the view was lovely, with the sea and Atami Castle lit up in the distance. The baths switch between men and women every hour. It seemed there may once have been separate baths for each, and the hot spring water was very cool, perhaps pleasant in summer.

The shared dining room was roomy and comfortable, and the facilities felt more than enough for an overnight stay. We spent two nights and three days here with a lodging voucher exchanged for Chateraise points. The building is old but well looked after, and the air conditioning worked well. My corner room on the second floor was comfortable, though the trains at night bothered me a little. If you're sensitive to noise, earplugs might help. There's no parking, and the hotel is up a long hill, so a taxi is a good idea with large luggage. Apart from the Deluxe Twin, rooms don't have their own bathroom, but the shared toilets and large bath were so clean that it didn't bother me.