Green Rich Hotel Aso Kumamoto Airport Artificial Hot Spring Futamata Yunohana

Clean.

I paid under 14,000 yen for two nights, which felt quite cheap for a business hotel these days, perhaps because it wasn’t peak season. Prices vary with the market, so it’s hard to make a general comparison, but a business hotel of almost the same standard in Nagaoka cost me 13,000 yen for one night. Anyone complaining about a place that costs 7,000 yen a night should try Osaka or Tokyo. What else do you expect at that price besides somewhere to sleep? The parking lot is ridiculously spacious. Even large trailers can park there easily, which should put business travelers at ease. It costs 330 yen a night, still better than Fukuoka city, where there are only coin parking lots and large vehicles can’t park. The facilities are basic, but at least there’s a bath. I hate unit baths, so being able to avoid one is a blessing. I do wish the hotel vending machines sold alcohol. Finding food nearby wasn’t a problem, although I didn’t use any of the options. There was a local bento shop close by. I wonder if that’s something specific to this area.

I booked a non-smoking room, and the booking site confirmed that, but a strong cigarette smell hit me as soon as I entered. I was tired from a long drive and didn’t want to check with the front desk, so I went to shower. Then I spotted a frizzy hair, like pubic hair, on the shower head. (°ㅂ° ╬) I was exhausted, so I just washed it off, took my shower, and went to bed. When I came back from work the next day, the room hadn’t been cleaned. I assumed it might be cleaned every few days, like at Route Inn, but my bath towels were still there and there were no replacements. I had to go to the front desk to get some. They said maybe I hadn’t put the magnetic sheet on the door. Apparently that’s a rule specific to this hotel, and I did feel bad for them. But they hadn’t explained it at check-in or in the room information, so after the previous day’s problem, I argued a bit. At check-in they said, “We have a non-smoking room available.” They also asked whether it was my first time at the hotel. I said yes, but nobody explained any special rules. I’ll never stay here again.

I stay in business hotels around Kumamoto for work, about two nights a week and roughly 70 nights in total, so I’ve tried a range of places. Lately I’ve been choosing hotels with hot spring baths so I can soak for a long time. This large public bath has just one tub, and you have to bring towels from your room. Extra towels cost more. The parking lot is large, though it costs 330 yen a night. There are two elevators, and they’re always waiting on the first and top floors, so there’s no annoying wait.