AB Hotel Isesaki

The only drawback for me was the room size: fine by Japanese standards, though it might feel tight to Western visitors. Otherwise, it was easy to rest comfortably, thanks to the proper climate control and comfortable beds. Rooms were clean, and the bathroom had everything, even a toothbrush and shaver. Breakfast is a simple buffet with enough Japanese and Western choices to suit different tastes. There’s also an artificial hot spring bath for unwinding after a long day.

I’ve stayed twice and had no real complaints. The public bath is a favorite of mine, and the breakfast is decent, with a few Japanese and Western buffet choices. My room was clean and comfortable, if small, as you’d expect at a Japanese business hotel. There were plenty of hangers, which was handy, and the AB Hotel on Isasaki is conveniently close to the station.

The station is so close that getting there is easy, but our first-floor room smelled strongly of cigarettes and body odor. We told the manager and got a bottle of Fabreeze, with the response that nothing else could or would be done. We had two small children with us, and that response made the smell and the stay a deal breaker. I’d book the nearby Toyoko instead.

The shared Japanese-style breakfast was really good, and the rooms felt fairly roomy while still being efficiently laid out. Isesaki station is just outside, so the location is very convenient.