TAOYA Kawaji

The lobby kept me entertained through the evening. I liked the relaxed bar and its small range of whiskey, tequila, and gin, then had the creamy curry udon for dinner. I'd heard of late-night noodles, but this was my first time trying udon that late, and it was delicious with red wine. Free morning drinks were available until 11:00 AM, and the lobby sweets changed regularly. The welcome chiffon cake was especially good, and even though I was on my own, there were two bottles of mineral water waiting in my room. I had a roomy Japanese-Western style twin room with an indoor bath, plenty of space for one person. The extension cord came in handy, as did the duct tape they supplied for insects. I enjoyed the massage chairs, ate and drank plenty, and stayed for two nights. I probably could have managed another, but I would have turned into a useless person. The bear warning signs at the entrance and open-air bath caught me off guard. It was also disappointing to see so little snow in late January. Still, the free drink in the hotel, which seemed rather luxurious, was a nice extra.

The breakfast seafood bowl was delicious, and dinner had a broad, tasty buffet selection. Our room had been fully renovated and was very clean. After checking in, we relaxed in the lounge with drinks, tea, donuts, and creme creme. This was my first time at TAOYA Kawaji, which joined Oedo Onsen Monogatari last year. Rates are a little higher than at typical Oedo hotels, but the all-inclusive setup made the stay very satisfying. We had an Iifuro member-only plan, for members of the Oedo Onsen Group, with a small discount: 18,000 yen per person, or 54,000 yen for three adults. I'd love to visit again.

The meals were a mixed bag. Breakfast and dinner each had three seating times, and I wouldn't choose the final dinner slot at 8:00 PM again. They started clearing plates at 8:30 PM, even though I was told I had 90 minutes. Dishes disappeared before I could tell what they were, so I ended up eating without really knowing what was on my plate. The selection was limited, but some items were good, especially the sushi and yakisuki. Carbonara and the Chinese food were disappointing. The carbonara was advertised as made in a live kitchen but had been prepared ahead, and the texture was unacceptable. The room was clean and spacious. There was some noise from other rooms, though it wasn't a big issue. The toilet door opened toward the toilet, which was the one drawback. The public bath was fairly ordinary, with indoor and outdoor baths, partitions around the washing area, and a place to sit outside for fresh air. The sauna felt lukewarm, and its door opened in the opposite direction from what I would expect, pushing to enter rather than to leave. That design seemed dangerous to me. Female staff sometimes entered the men's bath without saying anything like "Excuse me." Are there no male staff? It left me feeling that the hotel discriminates against men. Anyone bothered by this should avoid staying here. The bar was listed as open until 11:00 PM, but there was no last-order time posted. When I arrived around 10:45 PM, I was told orders had closed at 10:40. That's very unhelpful. Are guests who don't know when they'll be back being made fools of? For the price, the stay was just so-so. I'm appalled that this is the best Oedo Onsen. Rates have gone up recently, but I'd only find it worth about 15,000 yen per person for one night with two meals. I won't use Oedo Onsen again or recommend it to anyone.

We were quite happy with the food, ate until we were full, and enjoyed having the lounge open most of the time, with sweets that changed regularly. There was also a bar lounge and late-night creamy curry udon. The lounge treats were a hit, especially the Mont Blanc, and the drinks selection was good. We arrived shortly after 3 PM for check-in, along with lots of other guests, so we waited for our room with sweets and drinks. Our twin room had only a shower, no private bath, but it was spacious with two sofas. Being on the second floor was convenient, since the restaurant was there too, and the baths were on the first floor. We'd visited Nikko Toshogu Shrine, about an hour from our accommodation. The baths were being renovated, with the open-air baths alternating between men and women. The work was expected to continue until mid-April. We didn't hear construction noise during check-in, but it was quite loud when we went to the bath before checkout the next morning. The sauna temperature was also a little low, so the cold plunge didn't feel proper. I think 95°C would be better. Apart from those two bath issues, I was very satisfied.