SHARE HOTEL 198 Beppu

The owner greeted me warmly, and the antique interior and its scent were lovely. I hadn’t expected the accommodation to be this good. The room was large enough for me and a friend, and there’s also a spacious bathroom for private use. We could unwind with a beer in the roomy shared living room too.

The staff were kind and pleasant, and the shared kitchen and living room had lots of thoughtful touches that made the stay comfortable. There was no food provided, but having a Lawson next door was handy. I could pick something up and eat it in the living room. This was my first time staying somewhere like a hotel or guesthouse, and it made me feel nostalgic, like I was back in my hometown. My room didn’t have a bath, but I could use the public bath in the evening and again in the morning, without having to worry about anything. There was also a hot spring about a minute’s walk away. Free tickets, shampoo sets, and water were available at the entrance.

We stayed in room 101 for two nights on a family trip, and everyone had a great time at our first shared hotel. The place felt like visiting a fairly large relative’s house, with a relaxed, unhurried atmosphere. We had a first-floor room by the common area, but weren’t bothered by voices or noise. I’d worried about other guests, but apparently inbound tourists aren’t allowed on weekends. Both nights we met families with children around two years old, and we had an elementary school child with us too. The hotel was full over the long weekend, yet we used the shared hot spring without trouble. It was open from 6:00 to 23:00, so we could bathe before breakfast and dinner. I was impressed to find lotion, hair cream, and shaving cream in the bathroom. Our room had no refrigerator, so we used the shared one and wrote our room number on our things with a marker. Make sure you write it large or put the items in a bag, or they might be mistaken for someone else’s. The kitchen drawer had bags and disposable chopsticks, which came in handy. We also appreciated the fridge drinks, one bottle per person per stay, along with the free snacks, mineral water, and coffee. Thanks so much for looking after us!

We slept soundly, five of us, in the two large bunk beds. The drink service and common areas were comfortable, and we enjoyed visiting nearby Konohana Onsen too.