The Gran Resort Toba

The staff were the highlight for us: incredibly polite, friendly, and helpful, and honestly the best we’ve come across. We also loved the buffet, the public spa, especially its outdoor bath and view, plus the welcome drink and little shop. Our Sakura Special Room had lots of space for four, a beautiful view over Toba Gulf, and a massage chair. A few things could be better: the leaves by the entrance looked untidy, and at night we felt odd vibrations, perhaps from the massage chair next door. The lift was slow, and getting to meals or the public spa meant changing lifts in the lobby, which could be confusing, particularly for older guests.

The room was lovely, with beautiful furnishings and a great view of Toba Lake. From the moment we arrived at reception, the service stood out. The staff member who brought our in-room meal was cheerful and kind, and took the time to explain every dish. A wonderful example of Japanese hospitality. Amazing!

The staff were the real stars here. The front desk welcomed us warmly even though we arrived around 7:30pm, and one person ran out to show us where to park. The shuttle was punctual between the hotel and station, and the driver was both professional and lovely. They even handed out wet towels to guests riding back. At the buffet, the team stayed welcoming and helpful despite the crowds and made the meal run smoothly. Breakfast and dinner had lots of delicious choices. One woman there helped us get nice photos, and another at the lounge by the souvenir store went out of her way to take great pictures of us. ARIGATOU GOZAIMASU!!! Our sea-facing room was such a pretty sight, and housekeeping kept it clean and pleasant. I loved the room transformation: bedroom in the morning, living room when we came back in the afternoon, then bedroom again after dinner. The indoor onsen is huge, and the outdoor one is smaller but so pretty, so don’t skip it. This is getting long, but I have to mention the large welcome too. We had a really good time, and the staff felt like angels.

The view is amazing, and we enjoyed the welcome drink bar. We had a nice stay, though some parts of the hotel could use renovation. It’s quite remote, and the parking setup means handing your key to staff so they can move the cars around.