Livemax Resort Aki Miyajima — Hotel in Hatsukaichi

Should have listened to the other reviews... If you read my reviews you will see that I so very rarely write a bad one unless a place (hotel, restaurant or attraction) seems to go out of its way to make the experience unpleasant. This place most certainly did that. I can honestly say that the only redeeming feature of this place was the outdoor pool and the one bar waiter in the restaurant. ||We arrived around 1.30pm and the stony faced young girl on reception could see that we were very hot from the walk from the pier. Points out the shoes off/4 sizes too small slippers on sign that is in Japanese. Zero English (even though I asked in Japanese if she spoke any English) and was met with a flat "no" in Japanese. She asked for our passports (in Japanese) and then once she had looked at them handed them back and tells me via a translator app that check in is at 3pm so we should go and come back. No offer to sit down, no offer of a drink, not even an offer to visit their (seemingly always closed) little shop to buy a drink. Just a stony face and a distinct dislike of westerners it would seem. This only got worse during our unfortunate overnight stay here. Note - the massive mosquitos in the lobby didn't seem to bother the staff - only us.||We asked if we could leave our luggage and that was met with a sigh, and done with reluctance. We asked if we could have lunch - no lunch here. No offer of where to possibly go for lunch - just the stony faced look and not even a hint of a smile or help.||When we finally checked in we walked the corridor to our room. The smell of cheap laundry detergent meant a greasy smell each time we walked the corridor. Room was ok - but typically Japanese so everything is ankle height. I went to reception and asked for a chair - this exchange went on for close to 15 minutes - a young (again stony faced) fellow kept going in and out of an office to get answers to everything I was asking. Being told it was a Japanese room and I'll just have to put up and shut up basically, so I said I would find a chair myself - that was met with agression. I asked to see this mysterious person making the decisions and immediately I was told I could take a chair from outside the lift on level 2 (seems they are reserved for people in poor health - shame they can't be used for people who can't sit on the floor - like me at 6'3") but "you must return it!". Not a single smile - not a single effort to find a solution - disdain every step of the way. I haven't had an experience like this in years. Never again - and I'm warning others to stay away.||Dinner was a shambles. A very expensive included buffet had no plates/trays and we had to ask a number of times, then when they finally appeared they were dirty so we sent them back. The better seafood was swooped on immediately by people who took basically to whole lot - and no one stopped them - so we got to eat what other people didn't want. Dishes were not refilled for half an hour at a time. The only person in the whole place who redeemed this joint to any degree was the waiter at the bar - while no English (again - I asked in Japanese if he spoke English but no) he couldn't have been more friendly, smiling and polite. He quickly organised our small drink order and was quick to refill when we went back for a second sake. I told him via the translate app that he was the only person who was friendly and helpful in the whole place and he seemed embarrassed - poor fellow.||Breakfast was similar - the good things were taken en masse and we had to choose what others didn't want. People were leaving food uneaten on their tables and yet things didn't get re-filled so other paying guests (like ourselves and our friends staying as well) could enjoy them. Staff would clear the tables of the Japanese people but us westerners were left with our sad empty plates until we left the restaurant - both dinner and breakfast. ||Checkout was uneventful - but still - not a single smile just "everything is in order" (via a translator app) and a kind of wave away from the reception desk.||Seriously - I almost never give bad reviews but this place earned it - spend your money elsewhere, especially if you are...

We booked and stayed in an Ocean suite. Given the extortionate price we thought this would be super luxurious. After reading the reviews which were posted after we booked, we were a bit concerned about what to expect. Welcoming staff who spoke sufficient English made check in very quick and easy The room looked great on arrival. Very spacious and clean. Wonderful views and a lovely private shower and onsen on the terrace. And welcoming gifts like sake and beauty sets - thanks for those

Upon closer look we found a few things not up to scratch. The room seemed very dark due to several lights not working. We reported this to reception who inspected immediately and verified the problem, but said it could not be rectified for some time as the light bulbs were not in stock and had to be ordered. The lighting on the terrace was also very minimal and should be improved The sofa although fairly comfortable was a tired and damaged in places. “Bits” floating about on the surface of the onset which looked like skin from other people made me reluctant to get in. Has it been cleaned properly since last guests? 🤔 The pillows and mattress were very hard and uncomfortable. There was no pillow menu.

There is minimal facilities in the hotel, a shop that sells mainly sweets which was rarely staffed. Considering most shops and restaurants on the island are closed from about 5:30, it would be nice if there was a bar or cafe at the hotel for evening entertainment.

We didn’t try the restaurant buffet as we were put off by other comments and chose to eat dinner in a local ominiyaki restaurant nearby (which was wonderful and open til 10pm); and breakfast in Machikado coffee shop down the road.

On the whole we enjoyed our stay but probably wouldn’t return as it did not seem very good value. Management advice - spend more money on essentials like good lighting and cleaning the onsens, better furniture, softer pillows and more comfortable mattresses and less on moisturisers (5 types in one room is unnecessary) fancy glass holders for hair tongs and hair dryers, multiple slippers in every space and gimmicks like phone charger boxes...

The worst hotel experience I’ve had in Japan — shockingly bad service and attitude.

Of all my stays in Japan, this was by far the worst hotel experience. From the very beginning, everything went wrong. When we arrived, we politely asked if we could book breakfast for the following morning, and they said no, claiming it was “fully booked.” I had never heard of a hotel refusing breakfast to its own guests — and the way it was said was unnecessarily rude.

We had booked a Japanese-style room, but no one told us that we would have to move four extremely heavy wooden chairs and a large table ourselves just to make the futon beds. You’re expected to remove all the furniture, set up the bedding, and then put it all back in the morning. It’s absurd and not what you expect when paying for a hotel room.

The building itself is old, run-down, and smells terrible. Everything feels outdated, the common areas reek of food, and even on the fifth floor the smell was unbearable. The rooms are poorly soundproofed — we couldn’t sleep because the guests next door were having a loud party all night.

The worst part, however, came at checkout. We couldn’t find one of the two keys and immediately said we would pay for it, as we had to catch a ferry. The man at reception told us it would cost 9,000 yen, which is absolutely unreasonable. When I calmly said it seemed excessive, he became aggressive to the point of threatening to call the police.

The man who handled us — a staff member with a ponytail — was shockingly rude and confrontational. I have never been treated like that in any hotel anywhere in the world. It’s a real shame, because Japanese hospitality is usually the complete opposite of this experience. The woman who was standing next to him was trying to help and find a reasonable solution, but he wouldn’t let her speak.

Honestly, having someone like that in a front-facing role is extremely damaging to the hotel’s reputation. This experience was unacceptable from start to finish. I would strongly recommend avoiding this place — there are many better, kinder, and cleaner...