kurogane wrote:like using that new style fax type thing......WTF it's called.
We rented a cabin near Mt Fuji for a few days last year. Booked by internet, paid online, got the code for the lock by email. The lock would work as of check-in time on the day of our arrival until check-out time on the day of our departure. And there was an old-fashioned phone number somewhere, in case we had boggles.
We've never seen a "front desk". But I am sure, they had one somewhere; they were legal and legit

And we liked it there, would go any time again. Not being constantly pestered by the meretricious J-politeness and thousand irassaimases was a very welcome change, too.