Green Hill Hotel Kobe

The reception staff were helpful and super friendly around the clock. The prices are very low for Japan, and the room quality matches that. If you only need a bed and a shower, this could work. Otherwise, be prepared to pay more. For context, we're a couple, one of us is 170 cm and the other 191 cm. The room was in average condition and had almost no room for luggage. The bathroom was tiny, really only suitable for people up to 180 cm. There's no way to open the window, apparently anywhere in the hotel, which could be uncomfortable if you're claustrophobic. The aircon needed to run nearly 24/7.

The staff were very accommodating when we cancelled the last four nights and refunded them. We'd booked five nights, but left after just one because of the cigarette smoke. We got the sense this is a complaint they hear regularly. The hotel otherwise had excellent service, a decent location, and a room that was the right size for the price. It seemed fine for a short stay if you just need somewhere to sleep, but only if you smoke or tolerate cigarette smoke well. Smoking is allowed in guest rooms on certain floors, and the ventilation seems to carry the smell throughout the building. Our nonsmoking room on the 8th floor smelled as if someone had just smoked in it. We switched to another room on the same floor, but it was no better. As more guests checked into smoking rooms and lit up, the odor grew stronger. By around 10 pm, it felt like someone was smoking in our room.

Handy central location, with Shin Kobe Station and Sannomiya Station both a short walk away. The younger staff were very friendly. The older gentlemen at reception seemed a bit grumpy, though, and could smile more. My single nonsmoking room on the 4th floor was smaller than rooms I've had at other hotels, but clean enough. The soundproofing wasn't very good. There was no water boiler in the room, so for tea or cup noodles I had to go to the water cooler by reception on the first floor. You can borrow an iron from the front desk, but it wasn't good enough for my shirts, and there was no ironing board. It's fine for a short stop, but I wouldn't recommend staying for the two weeks I did.

Breakfast was really good and reasonably priced, and the staff were very nice and attentive. But for what it cost, I expected more. The hotel is old, and its rooms are much smaller than the already-small rooms I've had in other Japanese hotels. At the same price, I think you can find somewhere better.