Hotel Riverge Akebono

The breakfast buffet was plentiful, and it was an easy walk from Fukui Station. The room was on the small side, as is typical in Japan, but the bed and bath were good.

The breakfast and sauna were the best I’ve ever experienced. Thanks to everyone.

The breakfast buffet in Sakura Main Dining Hall was the highlight for me, with lots of Japanese dishes and local items to choose from. We had a nice non-smoking room with wood trim and accents, and the beds were very comfortable. The bathroom felt dated by comparison and was a letdown. I didn’t use the onsen bathhouse, but my wife said it was good. Wi-Fi was available throughout the hotel.

The restaurant was easily the best part of my stay. I walked in without speaking Japanese, and the bilingual manager made me an English menu. The staff were incredibly cordial, and the delicious six-course meal mixed traditional Japanese food with French influences. After the meal and four whiskey drinks, it cost only $90. The front desk staff were helpful and supportive too. I booked through Expedia and they noticed I’d been overcharged, then upgraded me without me asking. The city can feel overwhelming as a tourist, so the hotel was a bit of an oasis. I’ve stayed in Sapporo, Nagano, Tokyo, Hakone, Yokosuka, Yokohama, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Okinawa, and this was by far the best hotel I’ve stayed at in Japan.