Hotel Xcell

The staff were great, and the location is ideal for food, drinks, and shopping.

Really good service and prices, and the breakfast was amazing. A great hotel.

I first spotted this place on Booking.com while searching for a business-trip hotel nearby, though I wasn’t traveling for work. I’m glad I picked it: the room and bathroom were both bigger, there were lots of amenities, and pudding and ice cream were included for free. You get a key, so you can come and go as you like. If you get hungry, there’s reasonably priced food for an extra charge, about what you’d pay at a family restaurant.

The narrow, unlit road by the tracks didn’t feel safe to me. A local man had to walk there with a flashlight, and when I headed to the station in the morning, traffic was backed up on a road with no sidewalk and barely enough space for one car. I took the main road instead, even though it was a detour, and I’d recommend that route if you’re coming by train or on foot. The building wasn’t as new as the photos suggested, but I’d happily stay again. After traveling, it was such a relaxing place. The bath was spacious, the heating kept the room warm, and there was a well-lit, cosmetics-corner-like area with free drinks and amenities. It was fun picking shampoo and other items for a basket, and there were free mini sweets too. The pudding was delicious, and I think there was mandarin jelly as well, which I liked for helping me get back in shape, lol. I could come and go without calling each time to unlock the door, so it felt comfortable and restful. I was leaving early, so I ordered a mini hot dog for the free breakfast. They left it on a table in the entrance hall, just a door away, which was really helpful. Since I was staying during a trip, having a middle-aged woman at the front desk was comforting. My partner kept saying how great the hotel in Higashi-Fukuyama was, especially the roomy bathroom. We’ve stayed in love hotels and business hotels in other prefectures, and this was better than a lousy business hotel. I hope others follow its example.