Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Atami

The room was huge, the beds were comfortable, and we loved the tatami area and the view. Staff were very friendly with our child, and it was a relief not to worry too much if they made a bit of noise. The kids' activities were decent, though mostly for ages 4 and up. I'd like to see more for toddlers, like messy play or sensory activities. Some activities are hard to enjoy if you don't speak Japanese, which seems a shame given the number of international guests. A few basics fell short. We had to ask for an iron, it took ages to heat, and was still too weak to iron denim. Using the extra futons cost about 6000 yen, which undercuts the point of having a closable tatami room for a child's nap. There was also a 150 yen per person per night "spa tax," whether or not you use the spa, and nobody told us beforehand. The buffet got repetitive after two days, and by day three we were glad to leave and eat something different. At nearly 6000 yen per person, it felt very expensive for what it was. Hanabi, the kaiseki restaurant, was nice but also far too costly at 120,000 yen per person. Parking was difficult if assigned one of the side spaces, since you have to reverse up the steep driveway. There are no lunch options, which is hard with young children and means going into town. That's inconvenient without a car, and parking in town sounds like a nightmare. The shuttle is nice, but inflexible and books out. Room service was poor. They didn't vacuum and only made the bed once in three days, just changing towels and taking out bins. There are no do-not-disturb signs, so housekeeping may ring while a child is napping. For around $800 or more a night, it was disappointing. It was okay for what it was, but needs major improvements.

My mom and I stayed one night in a basic-price room, and it was one of the happiest, most relaxing times we've had together. I think every room faces the ocean, so you can enjoy the view by day and at night. The hotel seems mostly geared to families, especially those with babies and kids. We rented the tree house for 45 minutes, which included an easy cooking activity. The amenities were nice, and my mom liked the scent of the face lotion. The tubs aren't very big, so I imagine they could get crowded in a busy season. The morning buffet was fascinating, with almost everything from salad to ramen and smoked salmon. Service was amazing, everyone was welcoming, and we didn't have to worry about safety or inconveniences. Thank you for such lovely service.

Our family of four, with children aged 4 and 1, regretted making the trip from Tokyo for a four-night stay. The lobby views were nice, and the play areas and activities for young children looked like a good selection. The room was spacious, with a separate tatami area where the children could sleep apart from us, a large bathroom, and kid items like Lego-style blocks, a potty, and a step stool. We speak Japanese, so the activities being in Japanese wasn't a problem for us, but I imagine children who don't speak it would have a hard time enjoying them. The biggest problem was food access. None of the restaurants or cafes served lunch, not even sandwiches or onigiri, and the hotel isn't within walking distance of anywhere to buy food. I can't see how that's acceptable for families. Dinner also needs to be booked ahead, but they only told us when we arrived, too late to get a table that night. There are just two seating times, 5pm or 7pm, when we'd have preferred 6pm. Breakfast often had a huge queue unless you got there at opening. They have unused conference rooms beside the restaurant, and I don't understand why they don't use that space to make dining easier. The food itself was good but identical every day, so it got boring after a few days. A rotating main dish would help guests staying longer. Popular kids' activities also need advance booking. I understand that, but if families wait until arrival, they miss out. A family hotel should find a way for all its guests to get a chance. The gift shop only sold souvenirs, with no practical things like kids' snacks, basic lunch items, or diapers. There's a free shuttle to and from the station, which is useful, but roughly hourly trips timed around check-in and check-out aren't convenient for lunch in town. Housekeeping rang the doorbell while our child was napping because there were no do-not-disturb signs. And the curtains aren't blackout, so in summer light pours in at 4:30 and wakes everyone. I don't understand who this hotel is for. It's supposed to be for families, but missing basic amenities and thoughtfulness make it inconvenient and unappealing for those with small children. I can't in good conscience recommend it.

We had a good family trip with our child here. The room was spacious, amenities were plentiful, and breakfast buffet was good. Hospitality was perfect.