Yumotoso Toyokan Ryokan

“Surprise”

Our visit to this hotel was filled with unexpected twists. We booked plane tickets months ago as a couple, 2 adults getaway from kids. We didn't plan to visit any onsen as it was summer afterall. Then, when I started booking hotels, the "Visit Kyushu" campaign came out and onsen hotel prices were s… more

Our visit to this hotel was filled with unexpected twists. We booked plane tickets months ago as a couple, 2 adults getaway from kids. We didn't plan to visit any onsen as it was summer afterall. Then, when I started booking hotels, the "Visit Kyushu" campaign came out and onsen hotel prices were slashed. I figured the prices were worthwhile just for the meals. So we booked this hotel for a night. Just days after I completed the booking and prepaid, my kids' caregiver suddenly told me she wanted to go back to her home country. While I pleaded with her to stay and reasoned with her she must give us some time to find a new caregiver, I had to make a contingency plan. I asked the hotel if I could bring my kids. The hotel was kind and allowed it. So our couples getaway became a family trip. Which is fine. We enjoy a family trip as much. When we arrived at the hotel, we were asked to remove our shoes at the hotel entrance. This may sound odd to you, but this is the reason I asked the hotel then and there if there is vacancy for one more night. I figured the owners love their property so much they are not afraid of the trouble of managing so many shoes. This hotel cannot be bad. A staff member quoted me the original price. I said that's way too expensive and asked if I could pay the "Visit Kyushu" campaign price for the additional night. The staff asked the owner to come out of her office to talk to me and the owner agreed. I pulled out my wallet and the owner said no need please pay me when you check out. The hotel assigned us Room 201 which was huge. In addition to the Japanese section, there was the Western section in the room with the sofa. We loved it. They served dinner inside the room. Which means our kids could walk around when they get bored with the long formal dinner. Breakfast was served downstairs. Food was delicious and service was great. Except for the waitress in the first night who got impatient since we could not speak Japanese and we had a hard time communicating. Maybe there is no other guest in our wing ... The hotel provided no air-conditioning AT ALL in the hallways outside our room and outside onsens. The onsen on Level 1 was so hot (I mean the air) that I couldn't stay after 15 minutes. The onsen on Level 4 was a little better. No outdoor onsen. There was also no fresh air supply in our room. It got so stuffy that I got a flu after staying 2 nights. We could hardly see another guest in the hotel. So we figured business was quite slow. No wonder there's a campaign to attract more visitors. The big surprise came the second day. When we finally got our kids ready to go out and asked for our shoes at reception, the owner's daughter was waiting for us. She asked "do you want to stay another night?" I said "yes, already agreed with another lady I spoke to last night." She then told us we needed to pay original price. Why? Because "my mother made a mistake." Well, if you told us this earlier (actually we did see her when she gave us detailed directions to Mifuneyama last night), we wouldn't have unpacked and would live out of our suitcase. Can you please give us a discount then? The lady finally did give us a discount. But the price was still 50% above what I originally agreed with the mother. I come to Japan again and again because I hold the Japanese hospitality business in the highest regard. Never have I encountered a person in the Japanese service industry who breaks a promise. Don't get me wrong, there was no anger, no harsh words exchanged with the daughter. I am just disappointed. When we checked out, the mother was there to apologize for her mistake and give us a pack of coffee.

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