9C Hotel Asahikawa

The hotel is clean, and the location is handy, about a minute from the airport bus stop and central train station. The rooms are small, but fair for the price and where it is. The website photos and description matched what I found when I booked. Breakfast was basic, just egg, rice and pickles, and the washer-dryer was reasonably priced at 500 yen.

The staff were kind, everything was clean, and I liked the room. Breakfast was simple but filling too. My one gripe was the AC in the bunk room. If you’re in an upper bed, it’s right above you, noisy, and dries out your eyes and throat fast. I’m not used to air conditioning, so maybe that’s part of it, and it could have just been my room, but the placement felt less than ideal. Nothing that would ruin a stay, though. One of the best hostels I’ve been to in Japan so far.

The room was for two and had a door, so it stayed very quiet at night. Each unit comes with its own aircon, TV, desk, chair, full-length mirror and a place to hang a few clothes. There’s an elevator or stairs across the four floors, and I liked that the showers are split between men and women. Towels, toothbrushes and slippers are provided, and there’s an indoor smoking room, an ATM and vending machine. It was clean, too. The big lounge has lots of conversation-starting things, and I met a few people there. Breakfast runs until 9:00am and is a typical Japanese meal of rice, egg and miso soup, with tea or coffee. There’s also a craft souvenir area. Free parking is available, though it’s likely to fill up if you arrive late, and paid lots are nearby. A coffee shop and 7 11 are within a three-minute walk.

A really nice place for solo travellers to rest, and it’s very close to the JR station. There’s parking for an extra charge. The room has a fridge and TV, but no bathroom or security box, so you share the bathroom and shower facilities. They’re clean and the spaces are separated. The simple breakfast and nighttime snack are cute and available to everyone. You can get drinking water and use a microwave in the lobby. I’d strongly recommend it to solo travellers, and I’d stay again if I get the chance.