Hilton Hiroshima

The hotel sits in a quieter part of town, a short and pleasant walk from the main sights. Most tourist spots were about 10-25 minutes away on foot. There’s also a bus stop around the corner for trips from the train station, or you can take a fairly cheap taxi. We had a lovely winter stay. Our room was new, spacious, and looked out over the city, including the Christmas lights along the main road. Staff everywhere, from concierge to reception and housekeeping, were cheerful and welcoming. There’s an inexpensive laundromat about a block away, and the lobby cafe makes good coffee.

The people here made the biggest impression on us. The women at the breakfast cooking stations were especially lovely and made us smile every morning. We’d come back in a heartbeat. We spent four nights here with my partner, and it was easily our favourite Hilton in Japan. The rooms were spacious, with spectacular views, and we often had the gym, sauna, and pool to ourselves. The jacuzzi could be used by young children without any apparent limit, which occasionally took away from the experience. The 21st-floor Executive Lounge was a highlight. Its breakfast spread was smaller than the main restaurant’s, but had extra items that made it feel special. Happy hour at sunset had a good choice of drinks, though it got busy at times. The main bar also served well-made cocktails.

They kept our luggage when we arrived before check-in, and were helpful with directions and suggestions. Breakfast got busy around 9, but the staff did a good job seating everyone. There was plenty of variety and food to choose from. I also had sweets and coffee in the main lobby.

The room was nicely furnished, and the hotel has a roomy, impressive lobby. The carpet could have used a vacuum, but everything else was great. Service was excellent, too. Happy hour at the bar was nice, with a very good pina colada and club sandwich.