Sanco Inn Iseshi Ekimae

Sanco Inn is clean, modern, and comfortable, with compact but thoughtfully arranged rooms that had everything we needed. The staff were warm and welcoming throughout. They didn't speak English, but made check-in and communication easy with gestures and translation tools. In a smaller city like Ise, I wouldn't expect fluent English, and it didn't detract from our stay. The location worked really well for visiting Ise Grand Shrines. It's near the train stations, and the bus stops for direct rides to Geku, the Outer Shrine, and Naiku, the Inner Shrine, are just a short walk away. Getting around by public transportation was very easy. We'd gladly stay here again while exploring the spiritual heart of Japan.

The location is great, right by Iseshi station and within five minutes of the outer Ise grand shrine. There are nearby places to eat, too. The room was pretty good. The mini fridge was a little small, and there wasn't an easy spot to refill my water bottle. The hotel has a small, one-pool onsen that was easy to use. I liked the range of services, including ice, coin laundry, and a pillow bar where you can get extra pillows. Checkout at 10 a.m. wasn't my favorite, though I suppose that's about average around here.

The rooms were incredibly tiny, and two people would feel crowded. The media setup didn't support AirPlay, and all the movies cost extra. There weren't convenience stores or attractions nearby, though the hotel is directly across the street from the train station if you're arriving by rail. The water pressure and amenities were good, parking was available on site for a fee and felt semi-secure, and the price was good for a modern hotel. At first, it was confusing that two hotels with the same name are in the same complex.

The room was nice, though it felt a bit claustrophobic. It's time they realized it's no longer the 70s and that discriminating against people with tattoos isn't acceptable. Coming from the other side of the world and still not being allowed to use the baths wasn't nice.