Y’s Hotel Hanshin Amagasaki Ekimae

The rooms were clean and had everything I needed, with a comfortable bed and AC and wifi that both worked well. Mine was a little bigger than the usual Japanese business hotel room. There was free coffee and tea in the lobby during business hours only, and check-in is on the second floor after you come in through the front entrance. Amagasaki station is right outside, the smaller of the city's two stations, with the Hanshin line. It's a useful base for Osaka's outskirts or trips to Kobe. There are 24-hour Lawson and 711 stores close by, plus Matsuya for fast food. Things get quiet late at night in this small city, and the hotel locks its front door at midnight. You can get in by tapping your room card on the reader. I'd stay here again if I were visiting the nearby cities.

On 30 Jan 2025 (Thu) 1730H, I checked into the non-smoking city room view I'd booked, Room 816 with 1 bed, and found the toilet reeked of smoke. The staff member told me to put up with it for a day and said he would clean it the next day. The smell was too strong, so I objected. At first they said no other rooms were available, but eventually moved me to Room 812, which had no city view. The hotel's cleaning checks and credibility are lacking.

This is a cozy business hotel less than 100 m from Amagasaki station, with convenience stores and a supermarket nearby. It has limited features, but works well for business travelers. The breakfast spread was decent, though vegetarians had trouble finding options. The breakfast room is a reasonable size but closed the rest of the day, and no other meals are served. Checkout was quick, just drop off the key. Reception is on Floor 2, or the first floor by Indian standards. The room was small, as was the bathroom, so larger people might find them difficult, while a couple can manage. There was a bathtub, a heated toilet seat with automatic washing controls, an air freshener and purifier, and a trouser press. The room also had a TV with working channels, two cups, two glasses, an electric kettle, hair dryer, mirrors, three hangers, basic toiletries, two pairs of slippers, a bath towel and two sample towels. Nightwear and a communal bath are available too. There are three massage chairs in the 2F corridor, charging ¥ 300 for 15 minutes. The room also listed contact details for professional sessions lasting 60-90 minutes for 7,000-10,000/-, which seemed to be a third party service.

I liked the classical ambient music and the prestigious feel of the place, and the rooms were comfortable. It's just across the street from Amagasaki station, which has express lines to Umeda, Namba, Nara and Kobe. Breakfast had a good range, even for Vegans, with natto, okra, yam, soybeans, broccoli, soup, hot dishes and dango.