Takeo Onsen Mifuneyama Rakuen Hotel

The onsen was one of the best we’ve experienced in Japan. We could easily have spent half a day moving between the baths, saunas, steam rooms, and relaxation spaces. Dinner and breakfast were both generous and delicious, and the view through our room’s huge window was breathtaking. Even in winter, the lush greenery made us feel relaxed right away. The hotel’s food, facilities, and scenery all worked well for us. Service didn’t quite match the price. Reception staff were polite, but rarely offered information unless we asked. We only found out about the illuminated garden at night, a real highlight and perk of the property, because we happened to ask. At checkout, staff helped with our luggage but didn’t explain that we needed to bring the car back to the entrance to load the bags. We only realized our suitcases were still behind the counter when they returned the car key, which was confusing.

We booked the “combo tickets” through the hotel, but when we arrived it turned out to be just a reservation. The price was marked up because the outdoor teamlab wasn’t included, even though I thought the combo tickets covered it. I was never charged, so the whole thing was incredibly confusing. My brother lost his teamlab voucher. Even after we explained at length that we’d bought the tickets and they knew it, he had to buy another one. The best part is they didn’t even check the tickets.

The hotel facilities are quite nice, and both dinner at the Synergy Restaurant and breakfast at the hotel were wonderful. But figuring out how to get around took a lot of effort. With the unusual layout, we needed directions for the park, the Team Lab, and the nearby on site restaurant. We weren’t given an explanation or map, and different staff members gave us contradictory directions. There are lots of stairs and no elevators. Staff brought our suitcase to the room after check-in, but we had to carry it down ourselves, which isn’t easy unless your bags are very light. The front desk was lacking in ometenashi. The middle aged woman who checked us in was abrupt and seemed impatient while we chose welcome drinks. I’ve lived here for 10 years and speak Japanese, so I don’t think language was the issue. Maybe they’re understaffed. The facilities are terrific, but you have to work hard to understand what’s available and find your way around.

This is a review of TeamLab’s art display, not the hotel. The light reception was pretty, but I found the other exhibits disappointing and overrated. They were hard to locate, and compared with other TeamLab art exhibits, this one felt underwhelming.