Rakuten STAY HOUSE Kujyukuri Ichinomiya

The WiFi never worked, and the whole response to the problem was frustrating. I was told someone would call back, then waited four hours with no word. When I called again, they sounded flustered and said they were still discussing what to do. A quick update would have helped. Half an hour later they called to say the WiFi still could not be used and, since they were not a professional company, offered the ID and password for another room to use when I went out. That made no sense when I was asking for help because I had nowhere else to go. The connection remained unusable. On top of that, a plate was broken and the insect repellent was damaged. The management felt careless and sloppy, and I won't stay at this hotel again. I was already put off by a message about a PIN change and WiFi trouble arriving right before check-in. I wouldn't give this place even one star.

The kitchenware and amenities were all there, and the room was clean, so I had no real complaint about the basics. I was surprised there were no condiments, though you can drive about ten minutes to buy some. I happened to see inside the staff room because its door was open. There was a sign saying guests could take home any forgotten items they might be able to use. That struck me as odd. If you stay here, be careful not to leave anything behind.

We had the whole building to ourselves on a trip with my cousin's family, three adults and five children aged 1-8. It was tidy and comfortable enough that we felt fine letting the kids run around. My cousins and I had a lovely time chatting, and the plastic glasses were reassuring for the adults while the kids happily poured tea into wine glasses and toasted over and over. I'd gladly stay again, especially with children, though a few things could be improved. The biggest privacy concern was the see-through bay window by the first-floor restroom. I worried about the kids running around after their baths, and would have liked some privacy there. We also had trouble with check-in: after filling things out on the tablet, the final video call wouldn't connect, so we had to call Rakuten Stay and it took a while to sort out. Probably an unusual case. A few practical details were inconvenient. The hot water turned cold when I switched it off and tried to turn it back on. We didn't barbecue, but there was no salt or pepper, so bring your own. The projector in the second-floor bedroom faced sideways, which made it hard to watch while lying down. And be careful on the road the navigation app sends you down: there was gravel and some branches that could hit the car. The hotel is a block off the main road, so check where the road ends ahead of time.

For a single night with three families, six adults and four kids, the place had plenty of space, was quiet, and looked stylish and new. Every room had air conditioning. We could walk to the surf spot, and the outdoor shower plus storage for boards and wetsuits made coming back from surfing easy. There were two parking spaces, though we squeezed three cars in. Towels, a hair dryer, shampoo, toothbrushes and other basics were supplied, so packing was easy. The freezer was roomy too. Cooking was the weak point. The knife was dull, the frying pan badly burnt, and without a colander or enough bowls there was nowhere to put chopped ingredients. There was also no towel for wiping the table or dishes, which was a nuisance. The sofa sank a lot when sat on, and I couldn't tell if it was broken or designed that way. The fridge had no drink holder, whether it had been removed or never included; it worked for one night, but storing other food on a longer stay could be difficult. There weren't children's utensils either, so it felt better suited to adult groups than families with young kids. The address on Google Maps and Rakuten Travel took us to the wrong place. I found the location using Airbnb or Instagram information. Check-in at 4 PM felt late, especially in winter when it starts getting dark, and 3 PM would be better. The area is residential but stayed quiet all day, with no balcony or garden parties allowed after 8 PM. It just about covers the basics. I'd suggest it for a short stay, surfers, or people who care more about the look than cooking functionality. If you need to cook much, I wouldn't recommend it. Since a well-known company runs it, I wish they'd put in a little more effort.