Hotel Livemax Atami

I’m not sure why the rating is low. For the price, we thought everything was pretty good. The meals were buffet style and reasonably tasty.

The oceanfront room on the 4th floor had an amazing view, and the outdoor private onsen was perfect. The shower got really hot, with excellent water pressure. The room felt modern, fresh, and nicely laid out. The beds were quite firm, which suited me. Breakfast was such a good buffet that an hour didn’t feel like enough. Checkout was at 11 am, so there was plenty of time afterward. Getting to the station took about 20-25 minutes along the coast, then up a lot of stairs. Be ready for a workout, and don’t attempt the walk with a suitcase. I loved the stay.

Loved the private onsen and the views. The breakfast buffet was great too.

My Japanese friend suggested spending two days in Atami, and I picked this hotel for its private onsen with an ocean view. It turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The room was huge compared with other Japanese hotels, in a traditional tatami style, and had an amazing 360-degree view of Atami. The staff were friendly, spoke English well, and were happy to help with questions. I felt welcome from check-in. There’s a public onsen as well as the private one, and the view from the bath is fantastic. The rooftop is a nice place to unwind or watch Atami’s annual fireworks. There’s also a KTV room for a night out, but you can’t hear any noise from your room. A few things about town: most Atami restaurants close around 9 PM, so it’s smart to look them up in advance and make a reservation unless you’re okay waiting. English isn’t commonly spoken, but people are very friendly, and a few polite Japanese words and gestures make it easy to get by in restaurants. Atami is mountainous, so expect hills in both directions. Some good restaurants are uphill, and a little “hiking” before dinner adds to the experience.