Blue Marble

Arriving late here can leave you with a bad experience, so don't choose this place if you expect to get in late.

The owner had a yelling argument with another male guest and kicked him out. Then a woman from another couple came to our room to ask us to “be punctual.” That was unsettling, especially on a trip. The area itself had a nice atmosphere despite being away from downtown, and places like Cactus Park, Granpal, a drop-in hot spring, and a convenience store were easy to reach. The room had two beds and a separate futon, so we could sleep apart from our noisy children, though the loft ladder felt a little scary. The food was delicious. The payment trouble was frustrating. I had paid by credit card, then got an email saying the payment had been canceled and asking me to send my card number. I didn't think it was safe to provide that by email, and the cancellation wasn't showing on my online statement, so I explained that I'd pay the specified account once the cancellation was confirmed. They called twice, but I was at work and couldn't answer. Later, they sent an envelope with a copy of the canceled credit card and the account number. Once I could see the cancellation online, I made a postal transfer and emailed them about it. Two days later, they called again and started by saying they'd called and sent emails and letters several times. I asked if they'd seen my email, and they said they hadn't. When I told them I'd made the transfer the previous day and emailed about it, they said they'd check. I understand they may have panicked about the canceled payment, but it was the pension's mistake, and I wasn't at fault. Asking for my account number by email wasn't right, and they shouldn't have called in an irritated tone without checking my email first. I only have weekends off, so the days I can make a postal transfer are limited. If it had been a local bank, online banking might have worked. I went all the way to the post office to make the payment and didn't even get a “sorry for the trouble.” The owner's wife seemed to be trying hard to communicate with guests, and I liked her. The owner isn't suited to the service business. I won't go back.

The private bath was a real treat. You can lock the door and have the indoor or outdoor hot spring to yourself, without time or number restrictions. The water was a comfortable temperature and seemed to help my wounds. My ribs were broken, and they felt a little better the next day. The open-air bath under the beautiful starry sky was amazing. In the morning, have the coffee the proprietress said was from Hawaii. It was incredibly delicious. The food was wonderful too. I don't usually like seafood, but I tried salmon and escargot for the first time and enjoyed both. Even picky eaters may find things delicious once they try them, thanks to the husband's cooking. This was our first guesthouse stay as a couple with our child. We were a little unsure at first about the atmosphere and customs, so we walked around, spoke with the owner, and got a feel for the rooms and building. I was excited by the place's history and how the couple running it had preserved it through their strong bond. I hope people can experience Blue Marble's history, the proprietress's stories, guest autographs, and the fact that Wakanohana, a sumo wrestler, visited. Up to eight family members can fit. It's run by a couple doing their best to preserve its 36-year history. I wrote what I felt. People can write plenty of negative things, but the good things aren't really lies, right? Look at the couple's efforts and history with kind eyes. I'll come again with my whole family.

The food was delicious, and the landlady was lively and energetic. She was especially kind to our children, which we really appreciated. The open-air bath had a lovely hot spring feel, though having to wait in line was inconvenient. The toilet was the same. Apart from that, there weren't any particular problems.