Smile Hotel Hiroshima

The breakfast buffet was the best part. For just 1500 yen there was a lot to eat and plenty of drinks, including juice and milk, plus meat, cereal, noodles, yogurt, fruit and more. At that price it’s well worth having breakfast here instead of going out, especially since it’s in the hotel. Staff were accommodating, and both the room and service were great. There’s also a desk and room to work or set your things down.

The staff were extremely helpful and arranged to forward our luggage to the next hotel, which was really convenient. The hotel is good value, with spacious rooms and a fantastic location in the middle of the entertainment district, surrounded by restaurants serving all kinds of food. There’s a convenience store nearby, and amenities are available at the front desk. The laundry is handy, though the dryer isn’t very effective. Peace Memorial Park and Okonomimura are both about a 15-minute walk away.

We thought the 30-minute walk from Hiroshima station was worth it. The location has plenty within walking distance, including Hiroshima Peace Park, the covered mall street and lots of nice restaurants. The room was excellent, with a big bathroom, plenty of space and storage for suitcases, and it was very clean. Amenities are only at the front desk, not in the room. The washing machine was good, but the dryer is so inefficient you may need at least four rounds, or more for heavy items. One of the best-value places we’ve stayed in Japan, and we’d definitely return.

It’s definitely budget friendly, but the internet keeps cutting out for short stretches. In this day and age, that’s hard to believe.