Bottom line: As a lounge pass holder, I loved this place. They just do everything right - great service, hours, food & drink, atmosphere, location, and (drum roll, please) it can be insanely cheap. Using FNF, and buying points at the frequent 100% bonus price, I paid less than $50/nt for my four-night October stay. If you want to check my math, do a dummy points booking next summer, try 20-24 AUG: w/FNF you'll pay 8750 pts/nt (which is less than US$44/nt !!!), or just book with cash for US$51 (with the Visa 20% discount [cancelable] rate).

Let's take a look . . .



Sixth floor Lounge entrance: They do the little things that make a difference - like, they plant a staffer here in the hallway during rush-hour (1730-1745) to greet guests coming in off the elevator.



Gorgeous layout. Out-of-frame: there's a comfy sofa that runs the full length of the lounge.

Hours:
0630-1000 Breakfast
1500-1700 Tea Time
1730-1930 Happy Hour



Service area



Breakfast. Again, the little things, like Bubbly served every day, not just weekends.




Tea Time



Happy Hour - two hot dishes (that may change during the evening), several canapes, veggies, and at least one pasta salad nightly.

Again, the little things: a staffer comes by at 1720 with a tablet displaying a large-font English text message (for dumb Gaijin like me) that complementary food/drink will be available shortly. And, returns at 1920 to announce "last call".



Drinks - Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the great table service at a place like Okayama, for example, but the self-service model here at Akita is also fun, like have your own Sake or Scotch tasting.



More drinks. Not pictured: the automated beer dispenser.

Also not pictured: a small juice/soft drinks cooler. Stocked with drinks like Perrier. And, again, the little things - the drinks that are restocked are cold.




Do your own Bubbly tasting