Livemax Chiba Minato Ekimae

The location is outstanding, just a short walk to Chiba. Inside, the building felt safe and well maintained, and the room was compact, as expected in Japan, but thoughtfully laid out. It was spotless, quiet, and comfortable, with a great mattress, reliable A/C, a strong hot shower, mini-fridge, kettle, and fast Wi-Fi. I also appreciated the microwave in the room and the on-site coin laundry, especially for a longer trip. Check-in was quick and service was friendly. Staff were helpful, and it was easy to ask for pajamas, toiletries, and extra pillows. I had an excellent stay at LiVEMAX Chibaminato Ekimae Hotel.

The beds were nice and firm. We stayed six nights and had breakfast included, but got similar bento boxes every morning.

The one good thing is how close it is to the train station. Otherwise, the rooms are small and the service was terrible. My sister is allergic to feathers, so we asked for hypoallergenic pillows, but had no luck. We then asked for extra towels to use as pillows and were told each person could have only one towel. Staff couldn’t help us ship our luggage, and none of them knew English. Whatever we asked, the answer was always no. There’s no ice machine. When we asked what to do, they told us to get ice at a convenience store. We also asked about a convention and an airport shuttle, but they couldn’t help. The hotel has no cafe, which has been closed since 2021. We booked three beds but got two pushed together. At over 300 a night, I wouldn’t recommend it.

The hotel is well located, a two-minute walk from Chibaminato station, where there are also two supermarkets. The room size was acceptable and I’d say it was clean, but it seemed to be a smoking room, with a strong cigarette smell that would bother sensitive people, though it didn’t bother me. They had trouble with the cleaning staff, so my room was cleaned only once during my eight-day business trip. There was no lobby or cafeteria where I could spend time outside my room. Staff didn’t speak English, even at reception. On arrival they held my luggage until check-in, but at checkout the woman at reception wasn’t very friendly. Using a phone translator, she told me they couldn’t keep luggage for departing guests, even though there seemed to be enough space for my bag. That service deserves one star. I’d planned to visit some interesting places in Chiba, but in August it was impossible with my luggage, so I had to give up. The hotel deserves its low rating.