MALIBU HOTEL

At the end of the palm-lined road from the entrance to Kotsubo Marina, a completely different world awaits!It feels as exciting as arriving on the coast of Santa Monica—though I’ve barely been there myself, haha.As soon as we parked at the entrance, the staff greeted us with the warmest smiles. Since we’ve visited a few times before, they welcomed us with “Welcome back!” Our dog received such a lovely welcome too and couldn’t stop wagging! All that was left to do was relax.This time, we stayed in a room on the second floor. We arrived at that lovely time in the early evening, with the view sparkling from the balcony. Having an ocean view from your room really is the best!We took a break with some lovely sweets and delicious herbal tea carefully selected by the restaurant staff.The room had a distinctly Californian feel—at least, my idea of California—with beautifully coordinated furnishings and fabrics.The bathtub was spacious enough for a relaxing soak, and the generously sized bed was just the right firmness.It was incredibly windy during our stay, but once the windows were closed, the room was completely quiet, and we slept soundly.Early in the morning, we took the short walk to Zaimokuza Beach. There were plenty of other dogs around, making it a lovely place to walk our own.We even caught a glimpse of Mount Fuji across the water through a break in the clouds and took some photos! Why does seeing Mount Fuji always make you so happy? Haha.The locals all seemed to be enjoying themselves too, and we felt it was a wonderful place with such a pleasant atmosphere.Cycling along the coast on a rental bike and stopping off in Kamakura would surely be a scenic outing too!Now for breakfast! There was a choice of Japanese or Western breakfast, and we chose Western. The colors were beautiful! It looked picture-perfect against the scenery outside. We started with a green juice, followed by clam chowder, a fresh romaine lettuce salad, local sausages, an enormous croissant—absolutely delicious!—acai sorbet, colorful fruit, and a piping-hot skillet egg dish.We were full until dinner, haha.Chatting with the staff over our delicious breakfast was such a relaxed, enjoyable experience. They really seem like a wonderful team who are always thinking about how to make their guests happy! That’s what makes us want to return.We only stayed one night, but we wished we could stay for a whole week! That’s how comfortable and welcoming this much-loved hotel was.

This was my third stay. Everyone—from the phone and email support to the on-site staff—was wonderful, and it’s a hotel that makes me want to come back again.Because I’m not comfortable with carpets from a hygiene standpoint, and because keeping an eye on my dog so he wouldn’t get into trouble can be tiring, I asked in advance if the carpet could be removed. It seems to depend on the booking situation, but they were able to accommodate my request this time. Thanks to that, I was able to relax even more. Thank you very much.In our home, it’s a rule that we eat together with our dog, so we had Italian dinner in the room. We previously ate on AO’s terrace, but it was a bit cold and dim and felt somewhat lonely, so for those who can’t leave their dog alone, dining in the room is also recommended.A low table can be difficult for eating, so we sat side by side at the counter with our dog (in his cart) between us. We were told that Room B on the first floor has a longer counter, so if you’re staying as a pair, choosing Room B may be best.The food is delicious as expected, and being able to enjoy small portions of many different dishes is very satisfying.For breakfast we ate on Malibu Farm’s terrace. There were plenty of vegetables and a large croissant among other items—it was generous enough that I couldn’t finish everything—but it was delicious. The staff member in charge was also very considerate and made us feel truly comfortable.You can see Malibu Farm’s terrace from the room at night as well; it’s beautifully lit up and feels open and airy, so next time I’d like to try having dinner at Malibu.Thank you very much to everyone.