KAMENOI HOTEL (Oarai) — Hotel in Oarai

I recently had the misfortune of staying at KamenoI Hotel Oarai and felt compelled to share my disappointing experience. This once-promising establishment seems to be in rapid decline, with the quality of service and overall experience leaving much to be desired. Frankly, I would not be surprised if the hotel goes out of business in a couple of months. Here are the main issues I encountered during my stay:

Public Bath Debacle: The hotel is known for its public bath, an essential feature of Japanese culture. However, on the night I stayed, the hot water was not working. Japan is famous for its hot water public baths, not tepid, cool-to-the-touch baths that fail to provide the relaxation and comfort expected.

Broken AC: The air conditioning in my room did not work, and I wasn't the only one with this issue. Another reviewer noted a similar problem, making me wonder if the hotel is even bothering to fix broken amenities.

Poor Cleanliness: The bathroom sink was dirty, covered in grime, and the windows were filthy as well. It's disheartening to see such a lack of attention to detail, especially when it comes to cleanliness, in a hotel.

Insect-Prone Windows: Due to the broken AC, I attempted to open the windows at night for some fresh air. However, the insect mesh had holes in it, leaving me to choose between sweltering heat or unwanted insect guests.

Accessibility Woes: The doors to the hotel rooms were so narrow that my baby stroller couldn't fit through. I doubt that many wheelchairs or walkers could pass either, highlighting a significant accessibility issue that the hotel should address.

Restaurant Reservation Fiasco: The hotel has two restaurants that appeared empty during my stay. Despite this, I was told I needed a reservation to dine there and that it was too late to reserve on the same day. It's baffling that the hotel would turn away a paying customer, especially when the restaurants had ample space available.

Disappointing Private Bathroom: We opted for a hotel room with a private bathroom, a rare feature at KamenoI Hotel Oarai. However, it was nearly impossible to find pictures of the bathroom before booking. After experiencing it for myself, I understand why - it was hideous. Some prisons might have more appealing bathrooms.

Great View, If You Can Ignore the Dirt: The saving grace of this hotel is its view, which was truly beautiful. However, even this experience was marred by the dirt on the windows, requiring selective viewing to appreciate the scenery.

Considering all these issues, the $250 price tag for a single night's stay felt like highway robbery. KamenoI Hotel Oarai should be ashamed of the subpar experience it offers to its guests. If you're considering a stay here, I implore you to look elsewhere.

Despite the numerous shortcomings, I will give the hotel a 2/5 stars rating solely due to the stunning view. I hope KamenoI Hotel Oarai takes this feedback to heart and addresses these issues before...

Kanpo no yado is a group of over fifty hotels in resort locations owned and operated by Japan Post. They are generally viewed as reasonably priced for their facilities and service. We stayed at this hotel located on the river mouth as our foorhold to explore Ooarai and Mito in Ibaraki Prefecture. We stayed in a two bed room with tatami flooring which is unique but perhaps more comfortable than sleeping on a tatami floor as in Japanese style hotels (ryokans). Ooarai is on the seaside, so we had a seafood course menu for dinner, which was quite good. It is not so voluminous so those with a healthy appetite should also ask for one or two side dishes that are offered at affordable prices. The public bath which is not a genuine onsen was clean and relaxing with a small outside (roten) bath. it wasn't crowded at all as this was a Sunday, but I believe it could be different on Fridays and Saturdays because I learned that the occupancy rate on that day was only one third. Amenities are not that many, for instance there were no sterilized combs in the room or public bath. Overall I thought perhaps the room rate was on the expensive side for their facilities. The staff were cheerful and...

KAMENOI HOTEL (Oarai) The rooms were clean and nicely decorated, with a beautiful view of the river and the bridge. Car charging is available via the TerraCharge system—I recommend registering with the app before you arrive. I was able to charge overnight to 100% without any issues.

Breakfast was buffet-style. For vegetarians and vegans, options are limited to fruit, bread, and salad. Vegetarians can also have yogurt and eggs, plus simple items like rice. Not a huge selection, but enough to get by. The coffee was just OK—more of a café au lait than a proper café latte, which was a little disappointing.

Overall, it was a very pleasant stay in a...