Meitetsu Inn Kariya

Getting to NGO airport or heading to another city is easy since the hotel connects to the train station. On both of my week-long business visits to Kariya, the front desk paperwork was ready at check-in, and someone who spoke English was available to help with information. The rooms are small by American standards, but comfortable, with a firm bed and a tiny yet thoughtfully arranged bathroom. Breakfast was decent, with options I think most people could enjoy, and the coffee machines were simple to use. I’ve stayed twice while visiting my company’s headquarters, and this seems like a good fit for international travelers.

The bed and pillow were comfortable, and my room on a high floor had a nice view. The room was clean and the service very good, though it was the usual tiny size for a Japanese hotel. Getting around was easy. One thing to know: if your room faces the railway, opening the window may let in train noise.

The rooms are packed tightly together and much too small. You can hear even minor noise from other rooms. Sometimes people complain about it, and the staff tells us to keep quiet.

I went with the free breakfast option and got a buffet with Japanese dishes, including natto, along with Western choices. The hotel is clean, central, and well equipped, at around $50 a night. Right by Kariya station, it gives you access to Nagoya station on both the JR and Meitetsu lines, the lines the hotel is named for, so it worked well as a base for my Japan trip.