Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Nanki Kushimoto

The room was nice and large, and the dinner buffet was great. The onsen disappointed me, though: it seemed like the heat was turned off at 9pm, and the water was salty. I liked the stay, and there are plenty of interesting things to see around town.

This seemed to be a place where local families came on weekends to spend time together. There’s a ping-pong area and a relaxing comic area, and the gift shop gets busy at certain times in the evening when it offers a 10% discount. I was wary after reading some negative comments, and after two nights I could understand them, though I can’t really complain. The hotel covers the basics, and every room has a great sea and island view. Breakfast and dinner buffets are simple, with local products to choose from, but the price is much lower than at the more premium hotels, so you get what you pay for.

We arrived a little early in December 2024 because of the train schedule and went to the desk just to check in and leave our bags. We weren’t asking for the room. The tall man at reception cut us off right away with “check-in is at 3 PM,” without asking what we needed or offering help. We had to ask about luggage storage ourselves, which felt like a basic part of hospitality. While storing our bags, he repeatedly warned us not to leave valuables, in a tone that came across more like a threat than a reminder. Cold and unhelpful from the start, it was one of our worst hotel experiences in Japan.

The room was okay, and the cleanliness was about 6/10, but you get what you pay for. Check-in and checkout were quick and efficient. The dining hall was managed well, even during peak hours.