Nankai Yakusokan

The facilities are dated, and the room is basic, just a TV and futon. You make your own bed, share the toilet and communal bath, and there aren't any amenities. I was here for work, and the place didn't seem especially busy. The dinner, though, was delicious yakiniku, with generous portions. If you think of it as staying at a yakiniku restaurant rather than a lodging, it feels worth the price.

It's inexpensive, the staff are really friendly, and the medicinal bath is fantastic, warming you right through. Just be aware it's closed in the morning. There aren't toilets in the rooms, which gives the place a training camp feel, and the futons are thin, so they may not suit anyone bothered by that.

My work stay was comfortable, and the food was tasty even if it wasn't fancy. The room has a shared bathroom and toilet, and you can take a bath in the morning. They only provide bath towels and face towels, so bring any other amenities you need.

The room was surprisingly spacious, and there’s a convenience store just across the traffic light. With the room, food, and drinks, I figure the whole stay would probably come in under 10,000 yen. The cheapest rate I found was 3,100 yen per person for a room with a bath and no meals, rising to 4,000-5,000 yen in high season. A bath towel is supplied, but not things like toothbrushes or razors. It’s genuinely old. Some old guesthouses and ryokans have been renovated nicely, but this one hasn’t: there aren't many outlets, the door frames are low enough that taller people need to watch their heads, and there’s a lingering smell of tar that smokers may appreciate. Someone born in the 2000s might find that old-fashioned atmosphere a refreshing change. The toilet is shared. At this price, expecting business hotel quality would be wishful thinking, but it did the job. I hadn’t realized the adjoining yakiniku place, "After School Hormone Club," needed reservations. When I asked on the day, they kindly made arrangements for me, though that might not always be possible, so book it along with your room if you want meat. The yakiniku was average, with price and quality matching. Average isn't a bad thing here: it wasn't overpriced, and I could eat comfortably without worrying. With alcohol, I spent about 5,000 yen eating and drinking to my heart's content.