Hotel Gobankan

The shower has strong water pressure, which was perfect for unwinding after a tiring day. The service was also thoughtful and nice. Those two things are more than enough for five stars from me. Japan's business hotels never disappoint me.

I stayed two nights, and the price seemed reasonable since my plan didn't include meals. Kumamoto Station is about an eight-minute walk away. The only letdown was that the large public bath isn't separated by gender, so women who want to use it need to contact the front desk.

Once I got up the elevator, I felt relieved to see the corridors to the rooms and the hotel's former charm. The place was very clean overall, and my room seemed recently renovated and was quite nice. From the window I could see the river with the tram running alongside it, and Kumamoto Station was visible if I looked toward it. It's very close. The entrance felt more like a training camp, narrow with the reception desk right at the door. I was a little concerned at first. The reviews had described the woman as kind and friendly, but she didn't greet me and just looked down when she noticed me. I wondered if she was a part-timer who wasn't used to customer service. She came across more like a dorm mother than a hotel hostess. Nobody explained the welcome drink, though when I asked, she told me where it was.

The whole hotel was quiet, perhaps because it's set back from the main street, and I didn't hear noise from the next room. The room was very clean. The staff were all kind and seemed like genuinely nice people. Staying here really improved my impression of Kumamoto Prefecture.