As first-time guests who had traveled from NY to Tokyo and then driven 3 hours to reach the hotel, we were genuinely looking forward to a memorable experience. Unfortunately, the lack of communication around dining options and the poor quality of the meal at 山海香味 left us deeply disappointed. Upon check-in, we were not informed that the property’s popular restaurants required reservations at least two days in advance. As new guests, there was no way for us to know this in advance, and we were left with no real alternative other than dining at their Chinese restaurant. We were the only guests there, yet were required to order an expensive prix fixe menu, with no other options provided.
The quality of the meal was far below expectations. Several hot dishes were served at room temperature or even cold, and many items seemed more like frozen, reheated food. The fried rice was mushy and oddly flavored, and the dessert was unappetizing. More than half the dishes were left untouched, yet no one on staff asked if we were enjoying the meal or if anything could be improved. We were charged $400 for a dinner that none of us found even remotely enjoyable—and we all left still feeling hungry. I raised my concerns to the general manager and received an offer for a complimentary meal on our next visit. However, considering that the journey involves a 30-hour round-trip flight plus six hours by car, offering a free meal on a future visit hardly compensates for the experience we had.