Ariston Hotel Kobe

The main drawback is how dated the inside feels. Some rooms reportedly have a musty, old-building smell, worn or dusty furnishings, and old-fashioned bathrooms. The door locks are mechanical, and the AC may need to be adjusted at the unit because there isn't a remote. Renovation would help the interior catch up with the modern-looking exterior, especially since the hotel only opened in 2015. It's a budget-friendly 3-star option on Port Island, about a five-minute walk from Minatojima Port Liner Station. Kobe Airport is roughly 10 minutes away and Sannomiya is 15 minutes or less, making it practical for business, conventions, or a short stay near the convention center. Rooms, especially twins, are spacious, and there's free WiFi, on-site restaurants, and a popular breakfast buffet with local Kobe dishes.

I arrived exhausted after work hoping to rest, but couldn't get decent sleep in a dirty, uncomfortable room. The bed was rock-hard, the pillow was awful, and the sheets hadn't been changed. I asked for clean ones, but staff said they had no extras. They said they'd move me to a clean room, then never did. I had to ask for a fan or I would have been left in the heat. The AC didn't work, and I felt ignored and lied to. My coworker was in another room and had similar problems. When she called the front desk for me, they claimed my room was “perfect” and the aircon was cold, even though I had already complained and said it wasn't true. The staff did nothing. When I called again to ask for a proper clean room, they suddenly said I'd have to pay more. The first staff member had only said he'd move me and never mentioned a charge, but another staff member then wanted extra money for a basic clean room. It was their fault, and that felt like a complete joke. This was the worst hotel stay I've ever had. I felt completely mistreated. Is this really meant to be a 3-star hotel? It felt like 1-star at best, maybe worse. A disaster from start to finish. Do NOT book it, you'll regret it.

If you like that classic Showa flavor, this place is for you. It's like stepping into the early 1980s, with the equipment and atmosphere to match. The rooms are large, the location is convenient, and the service is excellent. It's not the newest or cleanest, but it's good value.

The smoking smell made it hard to sleep. Even though we requested a non-smoking room three months ahead, we were put on a smoking floor, and the stale odor from the hallway had spread into our room. The place feels neglected, with old, dingy rooms that badly need updating. They're a little larger than the Japanese standard, though, and the service is reasonable by Western standards. Breakfast had lots of choices, but none were up to standard. The pillows had some sort of hard filling, like beans or rice, and normal pillows weren't available. It's a quiet, fairly refined area, but there's not much interesting nearby. The Port Liner gets you downtown in 10-15 minutes. I wouldn't stay here again. Nearby portopia is much better, though it lacks any Japanese personality.