Dormy Inn Kurashiki Natural Hot Spring

I loved the onsen, with both indoor and outdoor sections. It seemed quieter around 7-8am or 5-6pm. On the ninth floor there’s also laundry, free to wash, plus Yakult in the morning and ice cream bars in the evening. Complimentary drinks are by reception, with coffee and tea in the morning, and soba noodles served after 9:30pm. This was my first Dormy stay and I had a fantastic time. The rooms were spacious and comfortable, and the hotel has lots of nice extras. It’s about a 10-minute walk from Kurashiki station and right beside the Bikan Historical Quarter, a lovely place to wander around.

The breakfast buffet had lots to choose from, and the front desk staff were helpful. Check-in was easy, and they offered complimentary juice or coffee at reception. Rooms are standard, though the pillow may feel thin and firm. You can ask reception for another one. The hotel is centrally located, with the old town only a few minutes away on foot and the train station about an eight-minute walk. There’s a convenience store next door. Good service overall, and I’d definitely stay again on a future visit.

Breakfast was quite decent and well priced, and I’d still highly recommend this Dormy Inn. It’s well kept and generally clean, though not quite up to the usual Dormy Inn standard: there were a couple of hairs around the sink in room 810, and the men’s onsen could be cleaned more often. We use sanitising wipes ourselves, so it wasn’t a big issue for us. The guests next door kept going in and out, and from what I could see there were at least four adults in their room. I also liked being able to check the washing machine and dryer status in the men’s, women’s, and unisex areas. As of 23 December, one men’s washer was broken and a unisex machine’s display wasn’t working properly. Washing is free, and drying costs a small amount.

The location is good, but the room felt old. On our long trip around Japan, this was the worst of the rooms we stayed in, all in roughly the CAD $200-250 range. If I return to Kurashiki, I’d look for somewhere else.