Business Hotel Koraku

The rates may be the cheapest around, but it’s worth reading other reviews to understand why. It seemed like many of the guests were truck drivers or workers passing through. For a leisure trip, especially with female companions, I’d consider paying a little extra for somewhere in the city center.

The owner was very enthusiastic, which was the only good part of our stay. The sheets and blankets were dirty, and the bathroom was almost unusable.

For the price, it’s decent and clean. The building’s a bit old, but has some charm. Just be aware there’s no combini or restaurant nearby. If you’re coming by train, check that there’s a train back too, or you’ll have to pay for a cab.

We chose the cheapest plan, ¥3,960 per person without meals, for a single night and expected at least basic comfort. Instead, the old room was drafty and the smell was bad. In the middle of the night, a foul sewage or gutter-water odor filled the room and woke us up. It was awful. The next morning, I felt our privacy was seriously invaded. The owner followed me from the dining room to our room, apparently assuming I’d stolen something from the cafeteria. He opened the door without knocking while my wife was inside, demanded to inspect my plastic bags, then gave only a brief apology. That behavior was completely unacceptable to us. This hotel was a low point of our trip. Unless you’re after the cheapest option and willing to risk a very unpleasant stay, I’d strongly advise against it. We’d have been better off spending a little more somewhere else.