APA Hotel Himeji Ekikita

For a quick, budget-friendly night in Himeji, this worked out well. The staff were friendly, and they stored our bags for free before and after our stay, which was handy for visiting Himeji Castle and other sights. Wi-Fi was reliable, the shower was good, and there were lots of outlets. The bed was firm but fine for me. The room was small, as expected, though we could fit our luggage. It was mostly clean, but the wooden desk was dusty enough for it to show by morning. The place was quiet, and it isn't too far from the station. I'd recommend it for a short trip.

I could smell tobacco in my non-smoking room when I came back, and the smell suddenly woke me up later. I was on the sixth floor, so I couldn't tell whether smoke had come in from someone outside my room or had traveled through shared vents from another room. My guess was that a tourist smoking at the end of the hall let it drift in. If you're sensitive to tobacco, it could wake you abruptly. The hotel is around a 5-10 minute walk from the station, then about another 10 minutes to Himeji Castle. It's centrally placed for the main attraction and the nearby shopping arcade, with places to eat and shop.

I paid ¥5000 for the night, and had no complaints. The room was basic, but I was there to visit Himeji Castle.

I've stayed at a number of APA hotels and haven't had a dirty room yet. They're consistently well looked after, and for the price, they're a very good deal. This time I booked a double online because no single rooms seemed available. At check-in I asked whether I could switch to a single, and the staff changed it right away, saving me ¥3000.