ANA Crowne Plaza Akita by IHG

The room was clean and in decent condition, nothing special but no real issues there. The location is very handy, with direct station access, especially if you're going to the Namahage Sedo Festival on the Oga Peninsula in winter or to Yokote for the Kamakura Snow Festival. Still, with the rates at nearby hotels, I think you can probably find better value. There's no coin laundry here or in the neighborhood. Check-in took at least 20 minutes, and the male staff member with short slicked-back hair and glasses wasn't especially professional or welcoming. I also noticed the usual Japanese service phrases, like “excuse me,” “please,” and “thank you,” were missing.

The hotel is older, though the rooms have been renovated. My standard double had a shower over the bathtub, and there were steps up to the bathroom, so some rooms may be difficult for guests with mobility issues. I found the bed comfortable, and even with the room on the small side, I could store my luggage without it getting in the way. The location is hard to beat, about a three-minute walk from JR Akita Station and close to plenty of places to shop and eat. A comfortable stay at a very well placed ANA Crowne Plaza in Akita.

We spent four nights with lounge access and were very happy with the stay. The lounge was lovely, with nice afternoon tea and evening canapes and drinks, and breakfast had a good range of food. Staff across the front desk, housekeeping, and restaurant were helpful. The room was bright and spacious, with very good bedding. The air conditioning was quiet, worked well, and could be controlled. The bathroom was bright and clean, with everything we needed. The hotel seemed modern and updated apart from the gym, which was large but had quite dated equipment. It's right by Akita station, and we'd come back.

The gym was great, really spacious, with some older but still good machines. I wasn't keen on the air in the room, and there was no way to open a window. The bed wasn't very comfortable either.