Hotel Route-Inn Kurashiki Mizushima

For someone traveling on business, the room is set up thoughtfully. The air conditioning and home-like lighting made it comfortable, and there were outlets by both the bed and desk, plus a reading light by the bed. I travel for work often and had no complaints. They clearly understand what guests need and how they'll use the space. I'll definitely stay again when I'm in the Kurashiki area.

The hotel sits on the edge of the city, which works well as a base for touring, but the nearby restaurants aren't very good, so I don't plan to return. I thought Route Inn was especially friendly to travelers; after staying at more of them lately, I've realized it's really just a standard business hotel with plenty of parking. I also don't understand why the motorcycles are left outdoors in car spaces when the porch at the front entrance is so spacious. I asked the staff, and they said it's the policy. I could understand it if the porch were full of motorcycles.

The hotel is still fairly new, and the facilities were fine. They moved me from a single to a twin room. Dinner at the hotel restaurant was a pleasant surprise: the demi-glace katsudon was excellent, with a thick, tender cutlet and a really satisfying sauce. It wasn't that thin, ham-like cutlet, but proper katsudon thickness. At 1,000 yen, I doubt anyone would complain. The weak point was the payment process and the explanation, which weren't sufficient. I wish they handled that more efficiently.

My daughter and I were happy with our stay at the familiar Route Inn. Breakfast tasted better than it usually does at Route Inn, and both the building and our room were clean. There was plenty of room in the large parking lot. The surrounding area is industrial, with lots of old bars, though there's also a convenience store within walking distance.