Wan Wan Paradise Toba

The location was great for relaxing, and I liked the food and the service. There are several room types; I chose an older one, but it was clean. The price felt a bit high for me, though overall I liked the place.

Nice place, and the fishing’s good if you know how to catch them.

We couldn’t use the outdoor dog run because it was raining, so we played in the indoor one instead. I’d read comments saying two air purifiers ran there and that it smelled strongly, but it seemed perfectly fine to me. Maru-kun happily ate the Matsusaka beef dog burger we ordered, and our dinner was delicious, with sashimi and Matsusaka beef yakiniku. The front desk explained everything carefully, which put me at ease, and everyone at reception and in the dining area was kind. I’d definitely like to return. My one extra wish is for a private bath.

The location is fantastic if you want to be near Ise Grand Shrine, and the dog run is spacious. If you get the timing right, it can be empty and feel like you have it to yourself. I took my dog on a trip for the first time and chose Wanwan Paradise Toba. The room was old, though the sliding doors and screens had been replaced nicely. The food was pretty good too. Service is what brought this stay down for me. The woman with glasses who checked us in, maybe in her 40s or 50s, explained everything in detail and was excellent. At the restaurant, though, staff couldn’t explain the dishes and took away plates that still had a little food, saying, “We’re clearing the plates.” Even a simple business hotel buffet feels more attentive. In the evening and early morning, a large, long-haired man at the front desk approached my wife while I was in the shop and started lecturing her about dog breeds. He kept explaining how our breed behaves and wouldn’t stop. Our dog wasn’t listening to him at all. His know-it-all manner and overfamiliar behavior felt really creepy. I don’t know if he actually knows much about dogs. The short-haired, sturdy man on duty when we checked out before 8am was good, though. He recommended Hakutaka Suisan, where we did some good shopping. He was friendly and a little intimidating, but seemed like a good hotel employee with excellent customer service skills. The pool was cold, so even though it was open, I didn’t dare put my dog in it, haha. Apart from the restaurant service and the strange male staff member, I’d give the hotel five stars. Those two things bring it down to one.