Richmond Hotel Tenjin Nishi-Dori

You’re right in Tenjin’s shopping area, opposite Iwataya, so getting to the shops is easy. The breakfast buffet is served downstairs at Royal Host, though the selection felt limited for a commercial restaurant. I was disappointed that the pancakes came with little packets of whipped butter instead of fresh whipped cream, and the coffee machine was broken on our first morning.

Breakfast didn’t begin until 6:30 a.m., the same time we had to leave for the airport on our last day. Since some hotels open earlier, I felt Richmond could have refunded the 4,000 yen charge. Instead, their printed offer was a cup of coffee or a cake to pick up the night before. Maybe that’s smart business, or maybe someone decided a few yen mattered more than customer loyalty. We arrived at 10 a.m. after an early flight and a 12-hour journey, but check-in wasn’t available before 14:00. We left our bags and came back five hours later, exhausted. At check-in I was told there was a 2,800 yen property tax for our one-week stay. It wasn’t a large amount, but the receptionist couldn’t explain why it hadn’t been included in the booking we’d already paid for. When I said my credit card was in my luggage and I’d come back to pay after unpacking, they refused to give me the room key. I had to unpack in the busy reception area to find the card. I’ve stayed at Richmond Hotels before, but after that treatment I won’t choose one again. I don’t feel much loyalty toward them, and it seems they don’t feel much toward their guests either.

There’s a self-service washer and dryer, and I liked that guests can pick the bathroom essentials they need from the lobby, which helps cut down on waste. Shops and other things we needed were all within walking distance since the hotel is right among them. Breakfast didn’t have much variety, but it was still good.

There are lots of malls nearby, with plenty of shopping and food choices just a minute away. Ichiran is also about a minute’s walk, and Don Quijote is open 24 hours and around seven minutes away. The bus and train stations are within a ten-minute walk.