HOTEL R9 The Yard Yamanashichuo

A really good hotel to stay at when you're in Yamanashi.

The quiet made it easy to sleep, and the compact room was very clean. Breakfast came frozen, so it was about what you'd expect from frozen food. About a 10-minute walk away, there are well-rated yakitori and houtou spots. I ate and had drinks at a houtou restaurant in the housing complex: mushroom and duck houtou, homemade monkfish liver, and a rolled omelet. I'm only guessing, but the chef seemed like someone from a proper Japanese restaurant. The omelet was 150 yen. I'd go back, and I'd tell others to give it a try even if they worry it might be a rip-off. It's also rated highly on Google.

The room was already warm when I came in, which was a nice welcome. I stayed in a double room and, despite having read that the rooms were small, had plenty of space to open a large carry-on and still move around. The microwave and two-door fridge-freezer were useful too. I was curious about the container house setup, and since the place is new, it felt clean and comfortable. The kettle did show some signs of use. Shops and restaurants are nearby, which is handy. There isn't a closet, just hooks on the wall, so a lot of bulky winter coats could be hard to fit. The step up into the unit bathroom is also a bit high and old-fashioned. I'd stay here again when I'm in the area. All the container houses have numbers, so I wondered whether they'd been considered as temporary evacuation spots in a disaster.

The bed was roomy, the shower had good pressure, and having a microwave and fridge-freezer was handy. The room itself was clean, quiet, and comfortable, and I would stay again for a shorter visit. I skipped the frozen food because the selection didn't appeal to me. The TV only had local channels, and when I switched it on to watch a particular program, it didn't work. More unsettling was someone ringing the bell and opening my door straight away before 10 AM, while checkout time was still in effect. There was only one car outside my room, so they should have allowed for someone still being inside. I was just by the entrance as I was leaving, but it was frankly frightening that they opened without checking. Guests apparently have to be out from 10 AM to 3 PM, so depending on your plans you may need to kill time outside. That makes longer stays awkward. For guests who ask, it would help if trash and used towels could be left outside on days when only those are being changed, with fresh towels collected at reception, and if guests could come and go freely.