HOTEL LiVEMAX OKAYAMA

The bed and bathroom were super clean, and the staff were good. Still, the place felt a bit neglected and understaffed. There were stains on the hallway carpet, and the room furniture was scratched and old, like something from a second hand shop. The bathroom floor is grey, but not by design. It looked like dirt had become ingrained. Maybe the cleaners don’t have the right equipment or enough time to clean it. Everything else was fine, but I paid more than I usually do and was disappointed that it wasn’t as good as cheaper hotels. It’s not a bad place, but I slightly regretted staying here. I guess it would’ve been acceptable if it had been cheap. Also, don’t confuse it with the similarly named hotel on the other side of the station.

The fridge and microwave in the room were a pleasant surprise. The hotel is right in the middle of Okayama, about 10 to 20 minutes from most attractions, including Okayama castle and Okayama station. That’s the main thing it has going for it. The room is tiny, and the bathroom even smaller. It’s hard to use the toilet without bumping your head on the door. The front desk staff seemed lazy. I asked for a second key card but was told they only issue one per room, even though I’d just seen the customer checking in before me get two. There’s only one painfully slow elevator. When I asked if there were stairs to go up and down, the receptionist said no, which sounds like a safety risk in an emergency. Housekeeping and amenities were shoddy: only a third of a roll of toilet paper, hand soap a quarter full, no disposable slippers, mold on the shower curtain, and stains on the bed cover. I wouldn’t stay here next time, or at any of its chains in cities across Japan.

I stayed one night while visiting the interesting places around town. The rooms are small but very clean, and I loved the hotel, mainly because of its location.

The self check-in was easy and smooth, and the room had a 700-watt microwave, an air purifier, and a powerful Sharp AC. Wifi clocked in at 81 MBPS. The TV isn’t smart, and all the shows are in Japanese without English subtitles. You only get one room key, and there’s one very small elevator, so you’ll need patience while waiting. The rooms are tiny, and if you’re used to Western rooms, you’ll find that frustrating. I could barely move in the bathroom without hitting the walls. The previous guest had used about two thirds of the toilet tissue, but they still left it for us on our first day. That’s disgusting. It might work for one small guest, and that’s about it. Reception is on the second floor. There’s an Indian man at the desk, but his English has an Indian accent that’s hard to understand. Why not hire a neutral English speaker who’s easier to understand, has customer service in their DNA, and is friendly with Japanese guests, like Filipinos? The Indian woman at the front desk told me there are no stairs, so in an emergency you’re basically dead. That’s a serious issue.