Inatori Akao Hotel

The mask rules in the lobby seemed strange to me. Staff were all required to wear masks, and posters still asked guests to do the same, though most people didn't. Even when welcome drinks and snacks were served, guests were told to take them to their rooms. That made no sense. The property is locally run, and they've done a lot of renovation work on the rooms, baths, shared spaces, and spa. Those areas came out well, but the building itself is in very poor condition. The elevators are tiny, the halls are run down, and the door frames seem built for the average height of Japanese people in the 60s or 70s. Most foreign guests have to duck to get into their rooms. Getting in and out is also stuck in the 1980s. The key is attached to a wooden fob and has to be left at the front desk whenever you go out. When you return, you may face a long queue to collect it, which is the last thing I wanted after a day at the beach. It gave me the impression management hasn't caught up with running a hotel in the 21st century. Card keys, mobile check-in, and spa reservations could all be handled with a simple swipe at fairly low cost. To be honest, I see this as a broader problem in Japan's tourism industry, where 80s technology can seem sufficient for 21st-century expectations. I came away with mixed feelings and can't say I particularly liked the stay. They clearly tried hard with the renovations, but there’s only so much polishing that can fix a building in such bad shape.