Fairfield By Marriott Kumamoto Aso

The public area is handy, with a well-sized indoor and outdoor seating area, a quiet little yard, and a kitchen stocked with a coffee and tea machine, microwave, two toaster ovens, paper plates and bowls, wooden cutlery, and hot water. The staff at the desk are friendly and helpful. They know some English and can get you checked in or point you around if your Japanese is limited. The hotel is right across from Aso Train Station, in a quiet, walkable spot. Lawson, grocery stores, a few restaurants, and Toyota rental car are all within walking distance, and free parking is next door. Our king room was clean and modern, with a sensible layout that made it easy to keep things organized. There was a fridge, lockbox, robes, slippers, and a bidet toilet. The sink area opens into the room on a peninsula with a swivel mirror, so two people can use it at once. You can also close off the sink and bathroom from the bed if someone is still sleeping. The shower was modern and clean, and there was a lounge spot by the window for reading, eating, or taking in the view. I'd definitely recommend staying here.

The rooms are spotless and about two or three times the size of a typical hotel room in Japan. Kudos to the staff at Fairfied Marriot. There are two washing machines and two dryers, though they get very busy at night. It's a convenient base for Mount Aso, with trains and buses right next to the hotel and plenty of parking for anyone driving. I do want to apologize on behalf of Singaporeans to the very warm, friendly hotel staff. One large Singaporean family treated the free shared dining area as if it were their own, brought in fresh sausages and tried wrapping them in foil to microwave in the community pantry. The mother also put her leg on the table. I felt pretty ashamed seeing that behavior.

We were unsure about getting breakfast in a box instead of a buffet, but there was enough food to cover lunch too. Having constant kitchen access and unlimited coffee was a real plus, and the shared atmosphere made the stay feel wonderful. The hotel is right across the car park from the station, with excellent staff and facilities.

The room was a very comfortable size, and I liked the low ledge running around it. It gave me somewhere to slide my suitcase underneath and spread out a few small things while unpacking. The mattresses, sheets, and pillows were the most comfortable we had on this trip. We even stayed in some very exclusive places that weren't as comfy. It's a beautiful new hotel opposite the train station, with lots of free parking if you're arriving by car. The shared area was pleasant too, with free drinks and a long table for eating takeout.