Hotel Route Inn Ichihara

A really disappointing stay. The service didn't feel friendly, and the breakfast buffet had no vegetarian-friendly options.

I spent 10 nights here on a business trip. The front desk team were very friendly and helpful, and the hotel is new, with clean, tidy rooms that had no noticeable smell. The large public bath is a natural hot spring with brown water, said to be good for the skin. For a longer stay, the five washing machines and many gas dryers were handy. Some days, though, the hallway smelled of cigarettes, apparently because the door to the smoking area was left open. There aren't any convenience stores nearby, so you'll need a car.

There isn't much around, but the hotel has plenty of parking, and I'd like to return to play golf before heading on. I booked that day to avoid traffic on the Aqua Line. The WiFi was fast, the breakfast buffet was as tasty as I'd expect from a Route Inn, and the large public bath was warm and pleasant. It seemed to use water from Kameyama that had been heated and filtered.

The new room was clean and comfortable, and I had a wonderful night. I walked over after eating dinner on the way from Goi Station, which is about a 20-minute walk away. There aren't convenience stores nearby, so the location was a downside, but the other things made up for it. I'd heard about the large public bath, but was surprised to find it was a natural hot spring. After coming from Beppu, I was tired from travel and work, so that was a real treat. It's a non-volcanic spring, which Beppu doesn't have, though there's one in neighboring Oita City. At 10 pm on a Wednesday, the women's bath was empty and spotless. The amenities were good quality, and I had no complaints. A card key at the entrance and lockable mini lockers also made it feel secure. There were picture books by the first-floor elevator, so it may be suitable for children. I didn't notice children's chairs in the public bath, though, so you might want to check.