Super Hotel Imabari

The room I stayed in was tidy and neat, and the front desk staff were especially kind and welcoming. I don’t speak Japanese very well, but that wasn’t a problem. The woman at reception spoke fluent English, which really impressed me and put me at ease. A wonderful place to stay when visiting Imabari.

Getting around was easy, with restaurants, Imabari castle, the harbor, ferry terminal, and plenty of shopping all close by. I was sad to leave. The open, self-serve bar was a great bonus. Super Hotel lives up to its name, with friendly, helpful staff, a good breakfast, a nice onsen, and a comfy bed. The deluxe double room had enough space for two Americans and our excessive luggage. The air conditioning worked very well too.

After cycling the Shimanami Kaido, this was a good spot to freshen up, about a 20-minute walk from Imabari station. It was clean and bright, with lots of amenities. We loved the free drinks from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., and the beds were very comfortable. There were plenty of pillows at reception that you could take to your room, which was great, since the usual Japanese pillows are very hard. The cheaper construction was my main complaint. The shower head fell off as soon as I turned it on, and I had to fix it before using it. The bathrooms were cramped, though that’s typical of a business hotel. Breakfast was pretty good, but by 8 a.m., with half an hour still to go, there was very little food left and none of it was replenished. That was a shame.

The rooms are typical budget hotel rooms, neat and clean, with a shared spring bath. The hotel is near a recently reconstructed Japanese-style concrete castle. Breakfast service is available the next morning. The accommodation suggests that guests might be more comfortable with an extra towel and some space in the room.