LiVEMAX RESORT

We came back after staying here last month. Though it’s in Atami, the hotel is up a steep mountain hill, away from downtown by the station and the coastal river. When we first arrived, it looked like an ordinary apartment building and I was confused. About half the rooms are for members only. The place feels old, but it wasn’t crowded, which I liked. My room was a little dated too, though well maintained. There’s a coffee maker in the lobby with welcome drinks, available around the clock, which I appreciated. The hot spring is on the first basement floor, with roomy indoor and outdoor baths. The temperature was just right for a relaxing soak. Both dinner and breakfast were buffets. The sashimi was fresh and thickly sliced, and the salmon roe was all-you-can-eat. When a plate ran out, they brought out another. The steaks were cooked fresh, and both sirloin and fillet were very tender. Everything tasted great. Maybe it was because we came on a weekday, but there were few customers, so we could really relax. I’d like to visit again soon.

Up in the mountains, this hotel was quiet and comfortable. It has an old-fashioned feel, with dial-operated air conditioning in the room. The toilet and sink share one space, and there’s no bath in the room, so you use the large public bath in the basement. Booking dinner and breakfast was the right call. Both were buffets, with as much salmon roe as you like. Dinner had tasty sashimi and steak, breakfast included bread and muffins, and the beef stew was delicious too.

The bath and meals made the stay feel like good value. Our twin room on the fourth floor was roomy, comfortable, and had a peaceful mountain view from the balcony. It was a welcome change from the usual Atami scenery. The room had no bath, so we used the large hot spring downstairs on the first basement floor, including its open-air section. There was a pool next door, but it was closed for winter. We drove here as a couple on a weekday, choosing it partly because it sits high in the mountains, about a 20-minute drive from central Atami. With two meals included, the twin room came to about ¥18,000, or ¥9,000 each. Weekend prices also looked fairly reasonable on the booking site. This used to be called the "Atami Mori no Onsen Hotel" and was rebranded on May 30, 2025, though the old name is still displayed. The building is quite dated, and some shared toilets are Japanese-style and marked out of service. The amenities in our room were good. Check-in was a little hard to follow with the many foreign staff members, though it wasn't a problem for us. We found it best to state clearly which dinner and breakfast times we wanted. The first-floor restaurant was smaller than expected, but it didn't feel hectic, perhaps because seating was controlled. The buffet didn't offer a huge selection, yet the dishes were surprisingly tasty, and steaks were grilled fresh at one corner. They were tender and good. Our family was very satisfied with the price and convenience. This may not suit people who specifically want to stay in central Atami. (20260220-21)

The food and baths were good for the price. At the buffet, the steak cooked on the spot and the seafood were tasty, and there were several kinds of ice cream along with free coffee and tea. We could also use the table tennis and other activities freely. The pool was closed, as other reviews had said. We came on a Saturday and Sunday in mid-January, with family and grandparents in two rooms. We got there by car using Google Maps and the former name, Mori no Hotel, as our destination. We had checked the building photos in advance, so finding it was easy, and they let us check in before the stated time. The morning open-air bath was especially nice. The sauna was spacious, and although we heard it was busy, the bath and changing area were large enough that it didn't feel crowded. Dinner time was the frustrating part. We'd eaten a proper lunch and asked for something after 6:30, but were told the slots were full. Since we had a larger group, staff strongly urged us to take 5:15 or 5:30. We eventually managed to book 5:45. Later I wondered how the meal times could already be full when we'd checked in early. The earlier seating had lots of families with small children and was noisy, so a later dinner would have been more relaxing for just adults. We had one Western-style room and one Japanese-style room. You have to lay out the futons yourself in the Japanese room, so for two people I'd recommend the Western one.