Submitted by rabuho on Sun, 06/21/2009 - 23:35
The Glass Chateau is a drive-in love hotel located about a 10 minute cab ride from the Hachinohe train station. It provided a unique experience with the sort of love hotels the majority of Japanese people visit. Drive-in love hotels are ubiquitous in Japan, but mostly located in rural or residential areas that tourists seldom visit.
Elegant it may not have been, but it did come highly recommended by a local cab driver we found outside the Hachinohe train station. (Of course, there might be something more conveniently located if you want to save on cab fare.) Unless you drive a car in, you must pay a deposit for the room of 10,000 Yen in addition to the regular stay room rate. Should you take a taxi to the hotel, it is recommended that you request the cab return and pick you up at checkout time (10 a.m.) so you don't have to arrange it in the morning.
Outside
The hotel is located far from the train station in what appeared to be a rural area outside Hachinohe. There is a large sign over the entrance drive. At the end of the driveway are several coral colored rooms with attached covered parking spots, sort of like an American motel. The parked cars are hidden by a tarp for privacy. If the tarp is not pulled and no car is in the carport, the room is available. The entryway to the room is off the carport so you can get out of your car, pull your tarp across and remain unseen for the duration of your visit. If you come without a car, it is still a good idea to pull the tarp so no one else thinks the room is open.
Lobby
The Glass Chateaus is a drive-in love hotel and there is no lobby. We entered the room, locked the door and waited. There was a small, private window with a sliding door near the genkkan. After about 20 minutes, someone called to clarify if we were resting or staying and to inform us that there would be a deposit because we had come without a car. The staff were very helpful considering how hard it was to communicate the deposit requirements. After the phone call, someone slid open the window to accept our payment and deposit (in cash).
Inside
The room at the Glass Chateaus was large with a big TV, big bed, a toilet room and separate bathroom with tub. The TV was outfitted with karaoke and there was in-room vending for food and pornographic material. The bath had a little TV built in with several pornography channels available.
The room was large enough to hang a laundry line and the bed was very comfortable. In the morning, we received a phone call to see if we’d made any room charges. This is a pretty standard conversation: you answer, they say some greeting and ask if you have purchased anything in the room that now you need to pay for. You say no. They say thank you, you say thank you, voila. The phone call is an indication that it is time to go.
Leaving
Following the morning phone call, someone appeared at the small window near the entryway and returned our deposit. We left through the garage and went down to the street to meet our taxi.
Reviewed May, 2006
