Hajimari Beppu

The rooms feel cozy, with just the right amenities and little design touches. There’s also a cool art Café and Gallery downstairs.

The place looks pretty, but the hotel experience fell short. The terrace shown in the listing was being renovated when we arrived, and nobody had told us. There was a very strong solvent smell in the room from the work. We could hear cars because the soundproofing was basically nonexistent. The large patio door had no shutters, so the sun woke us up. At night, the automatic hallway light stayed on for more than 15 minutes, which was really annoying.

The apartments are spacious, with lovely decor and great views. They'd suit families or groups well.

There’s a washing machine and drying rack in the spacious room. Lawson is just around the corner, and the shopping mall is about a five-minute walk away. The apartment has three rooms on the fourth floor, so a group using all three would fit perfectly. Sound travels, though. We heard the next room having a party with banging noises at 11 pm, as well as footsteps and things being dragged around. We also didn't know how to reach staff since this isn't a hotel and nobody was on standby. The parking lot is across the road, not behind the apartment.