Fukui Palace Hotel

Old, like a lot of Fukui.

The rooms and furniture are old.

The large public bath wasn’t crowded, with a washing area for four people, so I could relax and use it comfortably. I was in Katamachi for business. I found the hotel a little hard to locate among the downtown one-way streets, since I didn’t know the area. At check-in, the female staff member was friendly and polite, which I appreciated. The hotel feels old-fashioned, but it’s clean and well maintained, with a bit of a retro feel. In January, though, the room was a little cold: the air conditioning was hard to adjust precisely and switched off when the room was empty. It has what you need and is good value, so I’d stay again.

With its many restaurants and bars, Katamachi works well for business travelers. I stayed there on the way home from a work trip to Tokyo after missing the last bus. I arrived a little after 10 PM. The room and service were comfortable, though nothing fancy. I was tired and thought about just bathing in my room, but decided to make use of the large public bath since I don’t get that chance often. It closes at 11 PM, and I got there in time. The water was just the right temperature for me, and I could stretch out and relax. I left early the next morning and still felt refreshed on the way home.