EN HOTEL Ise

The biggest problem for us was the temperature control. You can only adjust the fan speed, not the air conditioner temperature, and the room was so cold you could easily catch a cold. At breakfast, we waited about 15 minutes to be seated because the tables were cleared very slowly and a line formed. Parking was another issue. The booking didn't say spaces were limited or that hotel staff don't manage them, so anyone could park there. After coming from Tokyo, we had to pay for a nearby lot. The hotel is fairly close to the station, with a supermarket nearby. A few small restaurants are within a 10-minute walk, though they're too small to comfortably fit a family.

We came between the end of April and the beginning of May. The room was a decent size and the staff were friendly, with a grocery store nearby and the nearest station less than a 10-minute walk away. The twin bed was a bit small, though. The AC didn't work well, and the bathroom ventilation was out for our entire stay, leaving it humid. It got so bad the towels wouldn't dry. The room was stuffy too, so we had to open the window for cool air. To our horror, there were no screens, and around 20 gnats or mosquitoes got into the room. We got bitten.

The handwritten map in the lobby was really useful and gave tourists a good introduction. The location worked well for me, since I took Kintetsu every time instead of JR. For a solo traveler, the room was spacious and clean, as the comments had said. Mine was right next to the lifts, but I didn't hear any lift noise at all.

The room and bed felt small for two people, though I know that's normal in Japan, and there was mold on the bathroom walls. The hotel is close to the station, but the attractions are on the far side, so it's a longer walk to get there. Breakfast was very average. We waited 15 minutes for a buffet seat because many tables were dirty and people were already queued up. It was Saturday, but the place still seemed understaffed. Check-in was rigid: even arriving five minutes early wasn't allowed while staff waited behind the counter. We were simply told to wait, with no introduction or information about the free water, coffee, or maps until check-in was over.