Station Hotel Hayato

There’s a Family Mart and Don Quijote across the railroad crossing, so finding things nearby shouldn’t be a problem. The room itself was spacious and comfortable. The hotel looks historic at first, with some newer touches from renovations while keeping the feel of an old business hotel. The entrance is small, and you take off your shoes and change into slippers, which keeps the floors feeling clean. Tissues and fragrance spray are in the hallway, and there’s a microwave and other items available when needed. I’d stay again if I had the chance.

My favorite part was the owner. He’s into cars and the military, and the stories he told me were new and fascinating. I wish I’d had more time to hear them. I drove this time and used the free parking lot, though JR Hayato Station is only a few minutes away on foot. The building is an older, ordinary business hotel. I got a great deal because my stay happened to overlap with a two-week flood recovery cashback campaign. The room was a little more spacious than a typical business hotel single, with a TV, fridge, hair dryer, and kettle. There’s also a shared microwave in the hall, so I had everything I needed. The unusual part was the unit bath. The tub was narrow, almost a right-angled triangle, and the shower curtain was tiny. It opened whenever I turned slightly and my arms hit it. I imagine it would feel cramped for a tall or overweight person. There’s no restaurant in the hotel, but National Route 504 is nearby with plenty of places to eat and drink. Don Quijote, Aeon, and Cosmos are all within walking distance for shopping. The hotel is by the tracks. Trains aren’t frequent, but you can hear them.

The view was unfortunately blocked during my stay because the whole building was covered in protective sheets for exterior work. In the morning I couldn’t even tell what the weather was like outside. You can also hear trains and railroad crossings constantly, so bring earplugs if you’re sensitive to noise. The building seems quite old, but it’s been renovated and is clean and nice. A plus is having a simple fridge in the room and a regular household refrigerator in the hallway.

I was in town on business from Hiroshima and stayed for about five nights. It’s a reasonably priced place, around 4,000 yen, even with prices going up. Nearby there’s Hayato Station, Don Quijote, supermarkets, convenience stores, yakiniku restaurants, and pachinko parlors. The owner was very friendly and shared lots of stories that were educational. Thanks to, or maybe because of, Typhoon No. 10, I got to experience Kagoshima’s charm. I’ll stay here again.