Hotel Vista Kanazawa

The onsen facilities were spacious and clean, and I liked using the public bath each night instead of showering in my room. The hotel is very close to Kanazawa station, which is convenient. Our twin room was just big enough for two people and perhaps one shared suitcase. The beds were hard, as is common in Japanese hotels, and the mattresses looked a little old. Noise was a problem: the walls are thin, so we heard other guests, ambulances, and other sounds. The staff's chilly manner was the part I found most off-putting, and it seemed avoidable. Even though I spoke Japanese, they insisted on replying in English and seemed nervous when I approached. They weren't exactly rude, but they gave the impression they would rather be doing something else. I noticed a sharp difference with the Japanese woman checking in beside me, whom they seemed eager to assist. Checkout felt the same, as if the staff member would rather not be dealing with a foreigner. They put us in the room farthest down the hall. Since things seemed slow when we checked in, I wondered if that was intentional, though I can't be sure. I managed to get breakfast for one day, but it was sold out on the other days. The presentation was lovely, though the food itself lacked flavor. The scrambled eggs were watery and looser than the usual Japanese style. Pancakes, French toast, and waffles weren't sweet either. I'm vegetarian, so I can't comment on the meat, though there was a wide selection. At least they had maple syrup and honey, which I didn't find at some other Japanese buffets. If I come back to Kanazawa, I wouldn't stay here again, and I'd warn other foreign visitors about my experience.

The room and bathroom were roomy and clean, without any unpleasant shower curtains. The public bath was huge, with a separate jacuzzi area and nice amenities. It’s also an easy walk from the west exit. The two older women on staff were incredibly friendly. The one big problem was the heat. We were there in late October, when it was about 13-18 degrees Celsius outside. That isn't terribly cold, but the hotel uses central heating and had switched off the AC, so our room became stuffy and unbearably hot at night. Staff kindly brought us a fan, but it wasn't as effective, and its bright blue light was blinding in the dark. They also asked us to leave the windows open, which meant hearing cars and the occasional motorcycle. We slept very poorly. It's a shame, because without the lack of AC this would be a five-star hotel.

The location near Kanazawa Station worked well, with restaurants and buses close by. After a busy day sightseeing, the secure women's public bath was lovely for a relaxing soak. Female guests get a special key card to enter, and the staff were helpful. It would be nice to have tea bags in the room. The front desk could also use stronger English. The handheld translator helped, but made communication inefficient.

The reception staff were very kind and let us check in early, which doesn't always happen at hotels in Japan. Our room was big and had a great bathroom. There was street noise, and the onsen could get crowded, especially when travel groups were there. Staff didn't always speak English, but they did their best.