Hotel Anda Monogatari

We were very happy with our weekday stay as a family of three, with our child about one year old. The staff took real care to help our child enjoy the visit. Looking closely, there were signs the place had once been a love hotel, such as the unusually large bathroom and the extra door between it and the living room. The wallpaper and interior were well maintained, though, and it didn’t bother us much.

The roast beef was amazing, and the seafood was fresh with no smell. Pork, chicken, and beef were all tender and seasoned just right, and the panna cotta and chocolate cake were especially good. I hadn’t expected much from the food, but there was a huge variety and I loved it. The kids played in the playground after dinner while staff kept them company, so the adults could relax and eat. There were snacks, sweets, and mazesoba noodles during bar time too. From 1pm to 10:30pm we had such a fun time. When I first walked in, the place seemed small and I thought the photos looked fake, but it was just right, with space to sit, have a drink, and keep an eye on everything. Adults can play darts, mario, and ping pong, and there were five huge karaoke rooms. I’d definitely come back. There’s so much more I could write, but this is getting too long, lol. What a wonderful trip, thank you!

We were three adults and three children, ages 9, 4, and 7 months, celebrating our 9th child's birthday. There were lots of families with little kids, so it was fine if they ran around. We could start playing at 1 PM before check-in, and drinks and alcohol were all-you-can-drink from then. Alcohol and drinks were also allowed in the room, with alcohol service ending at midnight. Karaoke was free, had no time limit, and didn’t need reservations. Room 1 had a cushioned floor and a stable round table with one central leg, so it felt safe for the baby. It’s hard to go to karaoke with a baby, so that was great. There were plenty of seats by the play area, making it easier to watch the kids. The lobby had a drawing activity to commemorate memories? When we gave the picture to staff, they laminated it right away. Besides standard toiletries, they lent one free ReFa CARAT massager and hand massager per room, which was a nice touch. The family private bath was easy to use with the kids, unlike a public bath where they might run around, and it helped that my husband could join in and split the tasks. The Pigeon foaming baby soap was a lifesaver, and saved me bringing a whole bottle. The Milton set with disinfectant solution was great for sterilizing bottles. With a baby, we bring so much stuff, so all the help mattered. They printed the birthday photos right away and also took several pictures on my phone. The birthday surprise was the most exciting part, and I had my camera ready for some great shots. There was a good range of baby food for the baby’s age and baby spoons too. Some places only have kid spoons, so I brought my own, but didn’t need it. Staff told us as soon as the food was ready, which made the meal even nicer. The beef steak was delicious. There was a wide range of sweets, and the canelés were delicious; my husband was happy with the cheesecake. Rental jackets and samues came in a good range of sizes. We had fun with sparklers. The washer and dryer were free, as were detergent and fabric softener. They had good brands like Top, Lenor, and Flair, not just cheap commercial products, and the machines were right next to the bathroom. It was so convenient to wash clothes on the way back or before bathing. At a recent hotel the washer and dryer were in the basement, which was really inconvenient. We could check karaoke and hot spring availability on our phones, so it was easy to move around. The staff smiled, were helpful, and had a kind tone. I know they explain the same procedures every day, but since everything was new to me, I might have thought the explanation was unfriendly. Their smiles and tone made me feel they were kind, and I was glad I came. I really am glad I came, thank you♪ A couple of small things: I wish there had been alcohol disinfectant in the baby rental corner. I assume they disinfect things, but babies lick bouncers and other items, and I’d like to disinfect them myself before use. Also, since alcohol is available until midnight, a snack shop would be nice. The convenience store is about a 7-minute walk away, but the road isn’t flat, so it feels inconvenient after drinking.

We went on a family trip, but it turned into a tiring, difficult stay instead of a relaxing one. We came when there weren’t many guests, which was nice, though it’s a small hotel and must feel cramped in peak season. The private baths would be hard to get into and the buffet is small, so I imagine it would get crowded. The bunk bed room had a wide gap between the beds and our child fell through. We couldn’t relax because there was noise from the upstairs room, probably children, walking, jumping, and dropping things until after midnight. I don’t know whether the walls are thin. We told the front desk, and perhaps they asked the guests to quiet down, but it continued and our child woke up several times. The playground had no staff, and adults seemed to get absorbed in darts and games and neglect their kids. I saw other parents being relied on to babysit several times. From the outside my husband said it looked like a love hotel, and we hadn’t imagined that it actually was. The old-fashioned interior and oversized bathroom made sense of it.