Iwaki Prince Hotel

The remote was dusty, the hairdryer was fixed in place, and the shampoo and conditioner were such poor quality that I wouldn't recommend using them. There were no outlets by the bed, and the fridge didn't have a freezer compartment. By the elevator there was a microwave, amenities, and a rental corner. Despite the name, this is an ordinary business hotel, not the famous Prince Hotel. Maybe the long weekend pushed prices up, but over 7,000 yen for a room without meals felt expensive for a hotel of this level. They advertised free curry on weekdays, but it wasn't available on the Friday public holiday. Two foreign women were on staff. I found their Japanese hard to understand, and they sometimes spoke informally instead of using the polite language I'd expect from hotel staff.

The shower in my room had weak water pressure, and getting the temperature right was difficult. For food, though, there were McDonald's and other places within walking distance, so I had no trouble finding something even though the hotel is a bit far from the station. A large supermarket right across the street was handy for shopping. I was there for a Class 2 driver's license training camp at the nearby Taira Chuo Driving School. Breakfast is a small buffet, and on weekdays there's free curry at 7 PM that you can take back to your room. It's popular and can be gone within 30 minutes.

I won't stay here again. The breakfast sides were limited, though there were oddly lots of things to put on rice, like pickled plums, pickles, and natto. The two young women at the front desk were whispering, and it was obvious to me they were talking about us. It made me feel sick. The bathroom hygiene was poor. The toilet and shower were dirty, there was a mystery hair on the washlet button, and dust covered the exhaust fan. Bugs were stuck on the walls, with their exact time of death unclear. Some wear comes with an old hotel, but these things can still be cleaned.

I've stayed at BBH chain hotels often. I was in Tagajo last month and came to Iwaki this time. It's a little way from the station, but the area is quiet and there's plenty of parking, which was reassuring. The toilet was the letdown. I wiped it down myself, but they really need to improve the cleaning! 👍