Takada Terminal Hotel

I had dinner at the restaurant on the ground floor. Nothing much to say about it.

From my sixth-floor room, I had impressive views over Takada city, Mt. Myoko, and the trains. The Wi-Fi worked well, and the front desk staff were helpful. They offered hot coffee as a welcome drink. The location is a strong point: just steps from JR Takada Station, near downtown and within walking distance of Takada Castle Park. Of the hotels near the station, this one would be my second choice after Art Hotel and Station Hotel. The building is aging, but the inside is clean. There were only two outlets, with none by the bed, so the cord barely reached my pillow from the desk. The shower controls weren’t a single lever, which made them hard to adjust. The tub was small, and the shampoo and soap felt weak, making bath time less comfortable. Breakfast was a free buffet with four kinds of bread and drinks. The coffee was fine, though the milk and juice tasted weak. The bread was tasty and seemed freshly baked. Microwaving it for 30 seconds made it crispier. I wound up eating eight pieces.

The location, right in front of the station, is good. Beyond that, there’s not much to it. For the price, it’s acceptable, and the service was neither bad nor especially good. The amenities and facilities are fewer than at a typical business hotel. The walls are thin. You can hear the next room about as clearly as the hallway, so I was glad I’d brought earplugs. Getting a quiet neighbor feels like a matter of luck, and if you’re unlucky, that’s that. The restaurants downstairs and nearby aren’t great either, so I’d read the reviews. There’s an internet cafe at the next station where a locked private room costs 3,300 yen for 12 hours. It’s worth thinking about which option suits you better. I wouldn’t mind either way, as long as the next room were quieter.

It’s handy for the station and Takada Castle, and the parking lot is spacious and easy to use. Breakfast is included, but it’s just bread, which gets a bit tiresome. I wish there were more choices.