Solaria Nishitetsu Hotel Kagoshima

The room was small, as expected, but it had a little seating area and a round table for working on a laptop. I wished there were shelves along the bed wall. The outlets are in that same area, so bring a longer charging cord. I liked having a water refill machine on every floor since I avoid plastic bottles. Housekeeping comes only on the third day, though fresh towels and tea bags were brought daily. Bathroom supplies were limited compared with Osaka & Hiroshima, with no face moisturizer or lotion. The location is fantastic, right across from Kagoshima station, directly connected to two underground food courts, and with a Lawson in the same building. You also get 10% for dining at the food courts. The volcanic view is worth paying for. From the station, go through AMU plaza, use the underground B1 route, then take the elevator to reception on the seventh floor. Our first impression was poor: we arrived at 2:38 p.m. and were told check-in was at 3. I understand check-in times are enforced strictly across Japan, but it would've been nice if the hotel had let us in when we were less than 30 minutes early, especially with heavy backpacks and a room available.

I asked for a room on a higher floor and the staff made it happen. From the 14th floor, the view of Sakurajima was breathtaking. The simple single room was clean, felt premium, and had plenty of space for my big luggage. The reception staff were cheerful and helpful, and we had some good chats despite my limited Japanese. It was my first time in Kagoshima and choosing this hotel was a great decision. I only wish I'd stayed longer than one night. It's my first choice for when I come back.

The view is great and the location can't be beat. The cleaning staff were kind and caring, but some people at reception seemed unsure what to do and could barely understand English or Japanese, which made interactions uncomfortable at times. The bedroom was very small and the floor was dirty. The bathroom, at least, was large and modern.

The lobby looks beautiful, but the rooms feel old and are so small that opening a large suitcase is difficult. We had Room 1425 facing the station, and the bed was uncomfortable enough to give us back pain after two nights. For a short stay the location makes it okay, but I wouldn't return for a longer visit because the room wasn't comfortable. The hotel is directly across from Kagoshima Chuo Station, about a five-minute walk away. Use the underground crossing, since there's no direct access at street level.