Hotel Dormy Inn Kagoshima Natural Hot Spring

The outdoor onsen, free icy-pops after bathing, and complimentary bedtime ramen are nice perks. It’s also close to JR kagoshima station, and the dormy inn experience is good value. The older property is showing its age, especially in the room we got. I was surprised there were no card-keyed elevators between the street and guest floors, so anyone could reach the room floors. There was no in-room safe either, though seeing staff on the onsen floor was reassuring. If those limitations are acceptable, it’s a great value, particularly for a man traveling alone on business.

The bathroom really took away from the comfort of my stay. There were clear brown stains and buildup around the sink drain, as if it hadn’t been properly cleaned for a while. The door and nearby areas also had visible mold and dark marks, and the hygiene was below what I expected. The location and other parts of the stay may be fine, but I hope the hotel raises its cleaning and maintenance standards for future guests.

I slept so well on the comfortable bed, and the rooms were wonderful and beautifully clean. The complimentary treat was a nice touch. The staff were thoughtful, helpful, and clearly dedicated.

The breakfast was varied, not too crowded, and cost 1800 per person. The elevator notice said there would be a 2000 yen adjustment on June 1. Staff were kind, the room was clean, and the location was excellent. I’ve been a loyal guest, but on this stay the fifth-floor corridor smelled strongly of cigarettes, something I hadn’t encountered before. There’s supposed to be a designated smoking room on every floor. It gets very crowded during Golden Week, and opening the window was the only way to ventilate. After I went shopping, I noticed a ventilation fan by the elevator that filtered the air, and things had improved. I still wonder where the cigarette smell came from. It seemed dangerous, like a fire hazard. Fortunately, I was only there for 3 nights.