Capital Hotel 1000

Breakfast was a highlight for me. There was local yogurt, sashimi, and mentaiko and umeboshi that I actually enjoyed, unlike the usual hotel versions. They cooked the fried eggs and omelets fresh, and the croissants were so good after a quick turn in the toaster. It was packed during Golden Week, so the breakfast room had no open seats at first. By the time I finished eating, I found a place, and when it's busy you can also take your meal into the lobby next door. The bath situation was a shame on my first stay here during Golden Week. One of the large public baths was out of order, which meant men and women had to swap baths. I ran out of time and couldn't use it. The free treats helped make up for that: unlimited ice cream, plus complimentary drinks from a vending machine and a drink bar. My room was clean. It had a cooler instead of a refrigerator, but my bottled drinks stayed cold enough. They can also keep drinks for you if you need them. There's a little shop with instant noodles and snacks, and a convenience store is an easy five-minute walk away. I was comfortable here and would definitely stay again if I have work in Rikuzentakata.

The check-in made a strong impression on me. A very experienced staff member helped me, and the service was excellent. I work in customer service myself, so I found it something to learn from. I also liked the coffee service in the first-floor lobby. This was my first stay at Capital Hotel, though I've visited Rikuzentakata several times since the earthquake and usually stayed in Kesennuma. I booked breakfast only this time. After spending on lunch, I picked up dinner at a 7-Eleven about five minutes away. I had a twin room to myself. The view was just okay, and despite being on the ocean side, the sea is quite far off. The public bath seemed a little small for a hotel this size, though going at a different time might help. Breakfast was a lobby buffet with a decent selection, enough for me. I didn't have dinner at the hotel. Parking seemed to have room for a reasonable number of cars, and motorcycles looked like they could go under cover. All in all, I was very satisfied.

The buffet was a real treat, with Japanese, Western, and Chinese dishes, plus plenty of food associated with Rikuzentakata. I also got a freshly made omelet at the live kitchen, and left happy and full. I was here for a company conference and stayed overnight. It was my first visit to Rikuzentakata, and the room was spacious, very clean, and had a great view. I'd love to return with my family for a personal trip.

The rooms are spacious, and the hotel seems fairly new. But I found the place terrible overall, and regretted booking even a single night. The location feels remote, with hardly any restaurants nearby, and there's no Wi-Fi anywhere. Even ice cubes cost extra, which was infuriating. There seemed to be just one staff member, who spoke only Japanese and couldn't understand other languages. They didn't seem to know anything. I honestly don't understand where the positive reviews came from.