Hotel Livemax BUDGET Naha

This is my 6th hotel in Okinawa in the past 9 days. I needed to switch hotels today and turned up at the LiveMax Budget Naha Hotel about 11:30 am to drop my bags off until check-in at 3. When I entered the lobby, there was a sign in Japanese saying they were making rounds and to call for service. I chose to wait. A Japanese customer didn't want to wait and called the number and a young Indian female clerk came. After she helped the Japanese man, I said to her in very polite Japanese "I would like you to hold my bags until check-in." She asked my name and I pulled out my business card in Japanese and showed her. Things deteriorated from there. She then asked for my passport. I said in Japanese "I live in Japan. It's not necessary." which was obvious from my business card. Again I showed her my business card. Normally, the request stops there. But not this time. She then asked for my residence card, which is illegal for her to request. I refused, again stating I live here and I know the law. She said, it's hotel policy and she wants to check my visa. I then said, I have been living in Japan for thirty years. I am a permanent resident. I do not have a visa...and I have a copy of the hotel law in my bag (from previous experiences such as this). I took out the law. She refused to look at it, probably because she already knew I was correct. After arguing with her another minute or so, she gave up, found my reservation, and took my bags. But the damage was done. I requested to talk to the manager. She told me I would have to call. Unacceptable. As a permanent resident of Japan with a Japanese address, according to the law, at hotels, I am under no obligation to show any ID beyond what Japanese people are expected to show, which is none. And since I paid using my Japanese credit card, using a Japanese home address, they should be able to understand "I live here." What this is quite simply is lumping the foreign residents who live here with the foreign tourists who don't, and the assumption that any foreign looking person is a tourist or on a visa. I am neither. Check my Japanese address and check me in. That's all that is required according to the law. After this episode, I went off to give a talk, arriving back at the hotel at 4:30 pm. Same woman. No apology. I paid, got my key and bags and went to my room. As for the hotel, the rooms themselves are small, and typical business hotel size with a small unit bath. The air conditioning works fine and I have a view of the wall of the neighboring building. The hotel is along the 58, and has a terrible noise problem with bosozoku, kids on motorcycles revving their engines to annoy everyone as they race up and down the street. Last night, it was from 1:30 am-3 am. That is not the hotel's fault, but something customers should be aware of. It's a known problem in Naha. If your room has breakfast, you get a coupon to exchange at the reception for a bento. Yes, this really is a bare bones budget hotel. The value honestly is about 6000 yen per night, but I unfortunately paid more than double. Even without the check-in drama, this hotel is two stars at best. With my experience, it is a one, only because .5 is not an option. Normally, I would give up on this chain, but I want to understand if this hotel policy is chain-wide or just this hotel. So, I may book a night at the LiveMax in my home city to find out. My conclusion is that this hotel is not recommended for foreign-looking residents of Japan. It will just frustrate you. Tourists won't notice this problem. My previous five hotels this trip simply checked my address and checked me right in. No drama. This hotel was the only one to give me a problem. Sad, the entire stay leaves me with bad feelings toward this hotel.

Although some reviews of hygiene and cleaning conditions were poor, I used it because it was close to government offices and monorail stations and was cheap. As it turned out, the room was well-cleaned and the mold, dust and smells didn't bother me at all. Even in non-smoking rooms, the smell was a concern in some hotels, but this was not the case. The room space was small, but the beds were semi-double-sized and spacious, with a refrigerator, microwave and air purifier. The front desk staff was also very responsive.

The hotel is clean and quiet. Room 506 was spacious and the bed was wide for the two of us. Room was equipped with good amenities and had everything we needed and more. 24 h shops and restaurants are nearby and many sightseeing spots are in walking distance. Great place to stay!