For now, I have been visiting Japan from London to see my family (Tokyo) and I wanted to visit Taketomi Island which I never did before. I am still in the hotel (staying for three nights) and I already have two big complaints. First, when I talk (sitting down on a chair) to the staff member either at the reception or at a villa where I stay at, they kneel down to talk to me. I immediately said to them, ”please don't do so, you are not my servant, have a seat, then please tell me about the hotel”. They were immediately embarrassed and told me, ”no, I must not do it. This is how we should communicate with our guests”. Being served at the hotel should not bring 'hierarchy” between the guests and the staff member. I do not need a servant and I would like to talk to them in productive ways. Then, I could enjoy my stay with them better than being served by the servant who would not be allowed to show their personality. From my point of view, forcing their staff member to kneel down to the guest is to send the wrong message to wrong guests. I am convinced that the management of Hoshinoya company believes, ”This is the Japanese OMOTENASHI and we should show it to the world”. It is wrong. Taketomi Island is a tiny one. Before I arrived there, there were already two big typhoons passing over the island. There are some disadvantages to operate hotels, such as how to appropriately organise the amount of the food and how to avoid the food waste. Maybe, this could be a reason why Hoshinoya Taketomi has only one dining area for all the guests. If you want to eat your dinner at the only dining area, you are forced to book ”Ryukyuu French”, which is not cheap. Do I want to eat French food in Taketomi? No way! Because the hotel is located away from the main street of the island, I wanted to have my first supper in the hotel. I ordered a simple one (which is not cheap either) and expected to be offered a table in the dining room. Then, I was told that I should eat it at the villa where I stay. Really?, although I spent a really good amount of money, I am not allowed to eat my supper in the dining room? Do they inform you of this situation on the website? No. This is NOT the quality of the hospitality when the cost is at such a high level. The young staff members seem to deliver the hospitality for the guests as much as they want. I enjoy talking to them. However, because they are FORCED to follow the manuals, they were panicking when I asked them about something which they are not taught. Sad. Just in case, the villa that I stay in is wonderful, worth paying the cost. However, that's it. I immediately fell in love with Taketomi Island. In a way, it does not show you jaw-dropping nature. However, when I was taking a walk, there were endless singings from birds and insects, with many many flowers and trees. Although it is good to talk to the islanders, I know that they do not do so. It does not mean that they ignore you. They have their own life and I thi
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