Grandpark Hotel Excel Fukushima Ebisu

The breakfast buffet was great, and the service from the hotel staff was nice. The building is several decades old, so the room felt a bit dirty. I also couldn't set the air conditioner temperature or choose between cooling and heating.

The first-floor restaurant used to serve a weekend lunch with buffet items plus a main dish brought to the table, with the price depending on which main you chose. In the March 2018 update, the weekend meal had become a buffet-only option at one fixed price. I dropped my rating from four stars to three because of that. People with big appetites may prefer the new setup, but on my recent visit it seemed geared more toward commercially prepared heat-and-serve food than entrees cooked by a chef. It had been a pleasant place for a weekend lunch.

The breakfast buffet, included in the room price, was outstanding, with both Western and Japanese dishes. My room was very comfortable, and the rates were quite reasonable. The hotel is a convenient five-minute walk from the station, though the decor is dated and could use a refresh. There’s also a small onsen with a dry sauna. The staff were friendly and helpful, as is standard in Japan.

The hotel is just a two-minute walk from Fukushima station. I also really enjoyed the breakfast buffet, especially the local specialties.