Comfort Inn Kurashiki Mizushima

We spent a weekend here as a family of four, with two elementary school-aged children, in a non-smoking twin two-bedroom room with a double bed and loft bed. The hotel faces a two-lane road, so it was easy to find. There was a large free parking lot behind it, also used by buses on group trips. At the front desk, we gave them our car model and license plate. Cross the street and there are restaurants and a drugstore, which was convenient. Check-in went smoothly. Even though it's part of a national chain, the staff felt very welcoming and homelike. They had sweets with a Momotaro quiz and peach jam at breakfast. The front desk staff were always smiling and kind, morning and night. The older gentlemen at breakfast were gentle and moved around the limited dining area so everyone could share the space. Self-service is becoming more common, so their friendly hospitality left a good impression and gave us a nice feeling about Okayama Prefecture. They seem particular about pillows and bedding. There were comfortable pillows for the children too. The kids loved watching YouTube and climbing up to the loft, though they did argue over where to sleep.

The people in the next room kept making loud noise and playing music past 3 AM. I complained to the front desk, but nothing was done. The noise went on until 4 AM, and I ended up trying to sleep in my car in the parking lot. I barely got any sleep there either. I'll never stay here again.

For someone who just needs a place to sleep, this is convenient and good value. A light breakfast is included, and elementary school students stay free.

The room was comfortable and clean, if pretty ordinary, and the location was handy with lots of restaurants nearby. What made me uneasy was a short female staff member at the front desk serving guests with her sleeves rolled up, then coughing and sneezing without a mask, perhaps because she had a cold. I would have felt more comfortable if a little more attention had been paid to hygiene.