Kamenoi Hotel Toba

Our room had only a partial sea view, which was a little disappointing, and it looked somewhat dated. I also wish I’d checked more carefully when booking, since the room didn’t have a bathroom and showering meant using the public bath. It may be that only some rooms have been renovated. We arrived a bit late while dinner was underway. The owner kindly let us eat before checking in, and another staff member directed us to parking when the lot was quite full. The buffet dinner and breakfast were both quite nice.

The room was the strongest part of our stay. Its modern design was thoughtful and still felt new, with Western beds and a Japanese tatami sitting area. Though the hotel is old, it has been renovated nicely, and most of the staff were friendly and efficient. One English-speaking staff member on duty was especially helpful and friendly. Our room looked toward the mountain and harbour, but also faced the carpark, which was a mixed disappointment. Food was the major letdown and weighed heavily on my rating. Dinner was buffet style, with many dishes lukewarm and seemingly prepared well in advance. The quality fell short of Japanese standards for me, with a noticeable lean toward homestyle Chinese and basic Western food. I would have preferred more refined Japanese dishes or Japanese fusion.

The view from the bedroom was gorgeous, and both buffet dinner and breakfast had plenty of variety and tasted good. Staff were kind and helpful despite a big language barrier. The atmosphere was enjoyable, and the spa was clean and very good. It’s a bit out of the way, so the hotel runs shuttle buses to and from Toba bus Station. They were always on time, but if you rely on them, plan for days that start and finish early. The hotel is old but generally well kept. A few spots could use a deeper clean, though it was completely satisfactory for sanitation.

The upgraded dinner came as a course, with each dish brought out and explained to us in Japanese. The food was good, and the beds were OK. The building is a little old but clean, and the window view was fantastic. It’s a nice hotel overall. The onsen is free and you can use it as long as you like. They also offer a shuttle to and from Toba Station, but you need to reserve it.