Family Inn Koriyama Chuo Inter Otsuki

The room was clean, with a spacious bed, though it was a little hard to make things out at night. Self check-in is easy, but the hallway is so dark that entering the numbers is difficult.

I've stayed here three times now. The price is great, and for what it costs, you can't expect too much. Check-in can be confusing because nobody is at the front desk, but you can ask questions by phone, and once you're used to it, it's fine. A passcode appears on the door when you check in, so take a photo of it right away. The amenities are free to take, so it's easy to get carried away, lol. They also have unlimited instant coffee, which is nice. From outside, the prefabricated one-story building doesn't look much like a hotel. Inside, though, the room feels like a fairly spacious business hotel, with a roomy bed and bathroom. The floor is clean enough, despite what some people say, but I've sometimes seen spider webs in the ceiling corners. I wish they'd take care of those. Parking is free, which makes sense for the location. The covered lot has solar panels over it, and I suspect the houses have them on their roofs too. I thought that was a good idea.

Free parking was a real bonus, and a taxi to the driver's license center cost 980 yen one way. The room was roomy and convenient, and reception and the staff were friendly. I could rent a refrigerator, hairdryer, humidifier, and alarm clock, which made the stay comfortable. On the downside, the towels were worn, there was mold on the bathroom fixtures, and it smelled strongly of ammonia. There's no breakfast, but there was a tea service corner. For a room-only stay or a family, I think it's good value.

The room was pleasant and spacious, but the pillow had such a strong body odor that I wondered whether it had been cleaned properly. The unmanned check-in was convenient, although the machine won't take new bills if you're paying cash. If you have new bills, you need to call the machine, tell the owner, confirm your room number, then put the cash in the mailbox-like slot under the counter.