Hotel Ayam – Tottori, Yonago- Beach paradise?
Bordered by the sparkling Sea of Japan, Tottori Prefecture offers dramatic coastlines and some of the country’s most inviting sandy beaches. While international tourists often pass it by, Japanese holidaymakers know Tottori as the perfect seaside escape from urban chaos. Yonago is dotted with elegant ryokans and glamorous resort hotels, basking in the sun right on the beach- luxurious destinations favoured by celebrities and Japan’s elite, with prices to match. But Yonago isn’t just for the well-heeled. Beyond the glitz, you’ll also find plenty of affordable hotels for budget travellers and, most intriguingly, a colourful array of love hotels, which is exactly where our story begins.
Located a short 4-minute walk from the beach, Hotel Ayam is the closest love hotel to the beach. It sits beside a small park perfect for exploring in the evening. The hotel sits behind the primary line of rich, glamorous ryokans that sit along the beach. From Yonago Station, you will need to take a bus and walk about 10 minutes to reach this area. So, for location, I award a 7. The hotel is in a prime holiday position, and the area was quiet.
For ease of access, I also award a 7, for a new score of 14. The hotel's website allows you to view how many rooms are currently free or being used. This is a feature I wish all love hotels would adopt, and I always appreciate the ability to see availability at the hotels which are out of town or not in clusters of hotels. For those relying on public transport, this feature is a lifesaver, and for those driving, I am certain the feature saves money on petrol spent hotel-hopping until a free room is found. I walked in and was able to check in without interacting with anyone. There is a check-in board that is old-style where only one room image is displayed, and you simply hit the button for the room you want.
For comfort and cleanliness, I will award a 6 out of 20. The room I got was small, and all the important things were clean, but there was a lot of wear and tear and dust. The sheets were clean, but I did find a hair that was not mine in the bed. The room offered a big TV and a bed; overall, it was a standard room with everything you would need for a night's stay and fulfilled the usual love hotel motto of come empty-handed. Amenities get a 6, for a score of 26. There was no amenity-style bar in the lobby, but the room comes with everything needed for the night. If you want extras, they can be ordered via the TV system or on the phone. On that note, food can also be ordered in the same manner, but I arrived late after having a big meal and was not hungry. The usual score of 5 will be awarded for a new score of 31. The menu looked standard, and for anyone arriving late who is hungry, you will not go hungry.
Bath size gets a 4 for 35; the bath was very small and reminded me of my old apartment's cube bath. Large enough to stand in, but sitting would not be comfortable. Large baths in Japan are hard to find, and this is usually the case even in business hotels. In fact, most business hotels just have shower units to save on space.
Finally, for overall enjoyment, I award a 6 for a new score of 41. The hotel fulfilled my need of having somewhere to stay close to the beach. I was able to explore the walk along the beach at night and absorb Japanese summer holiday vibes. People often wore yukatas from their ryokans or their own and walked along the beach enjoying the warm summer breeze. On the beach, several places to get street food were open late, and people also enjoyed sparklers. The hotel bed was comfortable, but it was missing that magical element that the higher-ranked hotels on my list had. It felt too similar to a business hotel: just a room to sleep in with a mediocre menu.
The final category is likely to return, which I award a 5 for a final score of 46; the hotel fulfils the purpose of providing a place to stay. However, there was nothing standout about it; the proximity to the beach is lovely, and that is a huge bonus as there was nothing to do in the room. So overall, if I return, I will maybe check out a cheap ryokan to experience a different style of hotel or try a different love hotel, as there are many in Yonago.
