JR-East Hotel Mets Funabashi

Being connected to the shopping mall makes this hotel really convenient. The room is small, but the toilet is bigger than in others. Good value.

I’ve stayed here twice now, and it works fine for a short trip because it’s convenient for going out. The small smoking room on the sixth-floor reception level means smokers don’t have to leave the hotel. The entrance is hard to spot since it’s inside the shopping mall at Funabashi station. The room is pretty small too, and opening even a small suitcase blocked the door, so a large one would be difficult. Check-in and checkout are through kiosks. There were three or four staff behind the counter, but manual check-in still wasn’t allowed. Someone also appeared on the screen just to say hello. That setup makes sense when nobody is there, but with staff visibly present it felt very uncomfortable to check in by machine.

This is a basic place with enough amenities for a short stay. I spent one night here before flying out of Narita. The room and bathroom were small, though the bed was quite comfortable and it stayed quiet at night. When I first entered, there was a faint smoky smell, but it seemed to clear after I switched on the air filter.

The room was clean and comfortable, though small, which is pretty typical in Tokyo and something you have to accept. The location was excellent, with a mall in the same area and everything you need close by. The staff were super friendly too.