Grand Mercure Awaji Island Resort & Spa — Hotel in Minamiawaji

My non-smoking room smelled of smoke. Fortunately the staff were exceptional, and I soon received another room.One staff told me that because the room was "Japanese Style", and that I had to take the bedding from the closet, move the low table and make up my own futon.I live in Japan and I know what a "Japanese Style" room is. Ryokans of a good grade will have staff make up the futons. When a hotel is too large, the work of making up the futons for all rooms becomes onerous, however, one wonders why "five star hotel" if one has to make up one's own futon AND receive education on what a "Japanese Style" room entails [ I am in the hotel business].The lobby is bleak and looks cheap. No style, no charm. The seating is ugly and cheap. There are real plants here and there but no cut flowers. Cut flowers are very expensive in Japan. Too expensive for this hotel.The final point is that I booked this specific hotel in order to take a swim. Although the weather was fine, the pool had closed the day before I arrived. The pool was still full of water, perfect and peaceful, but "closed". No doubt, this saves on staff and other expenses, in the same way that making up one's own futon does . . . all this is fine for a hostel, but not for a luxury hotel.I have been generous with my star-giving because I like to be kind, and because several of the staff were truly exceptional in their kindness and service, however, we hope that the management will note our comments. Please pay for more staff and please keep your pool open as long as the weather permits. Global warming means pools can stay open...

We recently stayed at the Awaji Mercure Hotel and had a mixed experience overall.

Check-in starts at 15:00, and although we arrived around 15:30, we had to wait over 40 minutes in line as only two counters were open. Not a great start for a new Accor hotel.

The rooms are spacious and clean, which was a definite plus.

To access breakfast and dinner, guests are asked to reserve via a QR code using the LINE app. Since we didn’t have it, staff kindly let us in without a reservation. However, both breakfast and dinner areas were very crowded, and the dinner buffet costs around 11,000 yen per person, but the buffet was really nice.

The swimming pool was overcrowded, with many guests bringing large floatation devices—huge beds, giant rings, etc.—making it hard to enjoy. There were only two lifeguards for the whole area, which didn’t feel safe given the number of people.

We didn’t use the onsen either as it was also constantly full.

The surrounding area has very little to do, and most nearby places close early, so don’t expect much entertainment or nightlife. The hotel seems to cater largely to Japanese families with young children, which affects the overall atmosphere.

Another positive note, staff were friendly, and there was at least one English-speaking person at the reception, which helped a lot.

Overall, while the hotel has potential—especially with its clean and spacious rooms—it still needs significant improvement in crowd control, guest flow, and accessibility for...

The location of the hotel is great for viewing Naruto Strait and the Onaruto Bridge. We upgraded our room to ocean view and the view is amazing. However, there is nothing at walking distance near the hotel. The only option is to drive if you want to head out.

The room was spacious, clean and tidy. It has all the amenities you need and it feels very modern.

The onsen/public baths were also great. I particularly enjoyed the outdoor onsen. There was plenty of space for everyone. I didn’t feel crowded even though there were a lot of people and family with kids.

The breakfast situation was a bit chaotic. The restaurant isn’t big enough to fit hundreds of guests at all once. So, they have a ticketing system which you need to take a ticket to secure your place first, and you will be notified via the website when it’s your turn. Unfortunately, we forgot to take a ticket and waited for almost an hour to get a table.

It was very busy and a bit hectic in the restaurant, many of the foods were either had small amount left or completely ran out. For the foods that we managed to get, it was delicious. I like that there were plenty of dishes made from local produces.

I did enjoy the stay and will come back, but will try to avoid...