Toyoko Inn Kagoshima Temmonkan No.2

My first stay at a Toyoko Inn was here, more than two years ago. The staff were so welcoming, and the room was clean and modern. I also appreciated the breakfast being included. That stay made Toyoko Inn my favourite hotel chain in Japan. Thanks to this hotel for such a great experience.

I wouldn't stay at this Toyoko Inn branch. In my experience, the management and staff treated non-Japanese guests disrespectfully, unlike at virtually every other Toyoko Inn I've visited in Japan. They require foreign residents of Japan to show proof of residence, which I believe blatantly violates Japanese law and is racist. This seems to be specific to this branch, not a common practice across Toyoko Inn hotels nationwide. Don't tolerate racism. Avoid it.

We were caught in Kagoshima for another night after our boat to Tanegashima was suspended because of snow during breakfast on February 4, 2025. We'd stayed here the night before, February 3, so around 10:00 we went to the desk to ask about booking a room for February 4, either a double or twin. The short-haired female employee in a dark blue uniform replied in Japanese. We only speak English, so we asked her to confirm, and she answered with a very impatient, unpleasant attitude. Toyoko must have many foreign tourists. Is this how guests who don't speak Japanese are treated? Japan is known as a country of etiquette, yet this happened in the service industry it's proud of.

Breakfast was decent, though the options were limited and I didn't get to try any local dishes. The room was clean enough, with skincare products provided, but it felt dated and still had a physical room key. I had asked for a quiet room and was assigned Room 211 beside the elevator. Its bell rang whenever it was used, and I couldn't sleep well despite the comfortable bed. The location is right in the heart of tenmonkan, with donki opposite. For the price, it's fine, but I'd avoid the elevator side.