Chaharu in Matsuyama

Terrible New Year eve buffet dinner ! Wagyu was cold , while the abalone had a very fishy/foul smell. For the price, the food was an absolute joke.

This morning at 9:50, I went to check out, but the front desk was busy as it was check-in time at 10:00. As a considerate person, my companion and I decided to wait in the nearby seating area provided by the hotel, which faced away from the desk. While waiting, I went to the smoking area for a cigarette and visited the hotel’s gift shop, where I purchased many souvenirs. I thought the items were beautiful and exquisite. My companion and I also discussed our upcoming itinerary, feeling very natural and relaxed.
Until I approached the desk to check out at 10:23, a person claiming to be the manager told me that we had exceeded the time limit by three minutes and needed to pay extra. I explained that because they were busy earlier, we waited in the nearby area, and we had arrived early. I suggested they could check the surveillance footage to confirm we were not late. She said we were shifting the blame, claiming they were only busy until 10:00 and that the desk was empty afterward, so we couldn’t use that as an excuse.
I replied that I was on vacation, not working, and wouldn’t constantly watch the desk. Moreover, the seating area was designed to face away from the desk. I also pointed out that I had spent time shopping in their gift shop, which should be beneficial for their business. I even showed her the receipts. During the argument, she admitted she had seen us sitting there early on, yet still wanted to charge us. I said I could pay if needed, but I couldn’t accept this situation. Even though I wasn’t charged in the end, the experience left a bad impression on me. The whole experience ruined my mood for the trip. For the first four days, I felt that the people in Shikoku were friendlier than those in Kyoto and Osaka, and the scenery was beautiful, making our self-drive tour very comfortable. However, this terrible hotel experience completely ruined our plans.
Originally, we wanted to leave our luggage and explore the area, but fearing they might charge us extra for parking, we decided to leave immediately. After checking other negative reviews, I found similar instances of being charged for being late. I think the hotel should reflect deeply on this. The staff’s quality is really poor. Hotels should earn money through service, not by using such strange methods, which will only accelerate their downfall. Having visited Japan many times, this was my first encounter with such a terrible hotel.