APA Hotel Hiroshima-Ekimae

We'd happily stay here again. For three adults, the room was a good size compared with other places we'd stayed, and the beds were comfortable. The bathroom was small but laid out well. There were plenty of amenities downstairs, a tiny Lawson on the ground floor and a large 7-11 up the road. The train station is just a five-minute walk away.

The rooms are compact, but clean, comfortable and efficient, and APA offers good value for money. The staff were great, and I appreciated being able to speak English since my Japanese is basic. Express checkout was handy too. This was my second APA stay on a recent Japan holiday, after APA Hotel Ueno Ekimae. The Shinkansen ride was smooth, and getting from the station was easy: I took the underground walkway, went up the escalator at Exit 8, crossed the bridge by the river, and the hotel was on the right.

I could see the effort to plan the rooms efficiently and provide useful amenities for travelers. It's probably fine for a night or two, especially if you're on your own, but I'm not sure I'd choose this APA Hotel again. The room was extremely cramped. Lying in bed, my head and feet almost touched opposite sides of the room. The overall feel was a bit odd too, like an affordable hotel trying hard to seem prestigious or luxurious, and it came off awkward to me. It wasn't a terrible stay, just not my preference. I might use it if I needed somewhere quick and convenient.

Getting around is easy because the hotel is a short walk from Hiroshima Station. There are plenty of restaurants, cafés and convenience stores nearby, and Don Quijote is about ten minutes away on foot for a quick shop. The lobby and common areas are clean, bright and thoughtfully arranged, with a polished, slightly Western-style feel that isn't over the top. Staff are consistently helpful and professional, making the stay smooth. It's a comfortable, practical and reliable hotel that I'd be happy to return to.