Hotel Swan Lake Nagara

We brought our dog and had a great time in the outdoor run, which had lots of tennis balls. There are indoor and outdoor dog runs, both open 24 hours, and the hotel is spacious. Dogs wearing diapers can walk through the hallways and on the stairs without being carried. It's unusual to find a dog-friendly place this well equipped at such an affordable price.

The playroom for preschool-aged kids was a big draw, especially for a rainy day, and there's also a dog run. The hotel feels spacious and open, with a maze-like room layout and an unusually distinctive washing area in the large public bath. It has some manga too, though the selection isn't large. This is affiliated with APA Hotel, but going in with the usual idea of an APA Hotel might surprise you. The old cameras in corridor display cases and the billiard hall by the lobby give the place a cool, movie-set feel. I wondered if weddings had been held here before, and the room layout made me think it may once have been a large-capacity hotel. Outside, it's surrounded by recycling yards. It seems to host company training, and has plenty of long-stay basics such as coin laundry, a microwave, and a refrigerator. Lawson is about a five-minute drive away. If you're booking, I'd strongly recommend checking the hotel website first to understand its concept.

The room was spacious and pleasant, and the low price made me stay several nights. You can hear the TV from the next room, and towel changes cost 200 yen each time while room cleaning costs 300 yen each time. I can see why it was so cheap.

There were a lot of problems with the room and facilities, so I won't be coming back. I found hair in the bathtub, there was no hairdryer, and the futon was covered in lint. With so few maps of the building, it was easy to get lost, and the entrance looked close to becoming a ruin. The front desk staff were average.