Setouchi Kojima Hotel Kurashiki

The hotel is a little old, but I had an amazing view from my room. The staff were very helpful and the service was superb. We missed the last morning shuttle, so a staff member took us to the station. We chose the Western-style breakfast, which tasted very good. It was a nice stay.

The rooms have plenty of space to stretch out, and the hotel has lots of amenities with excellent service. You can choose a Western or Japanese breakfast, both with a great view. It may not be as modern as many big-city hotels, but it has its own charm. The view over the Inland Sea area and Great Seto Bridge is unbeatable.

If you're an affluent bridge fan with a car, this might be the hotel for you. Otherwise, maybe not. It's isolated at the top of a hill, and getting there on foot or by bike is possible but unpleasant. I struggled up the hill in the dark and wasn't having fun, so I didn't test whether the staff would laugh at my jokes. They were polite and efficient, as you'd expect at a moderately posh hotel. The room was huge, enough for maybe three people to swing cats at once without getting in each other's way. But the original carpet had been covered very ineptly with stick-on tiles, with misaligned pieces, large gaps, and awkward joins against the walls. I suspect this room is reserved for foreigners who might be uncomfortable with the usual Japanese level of perfection.

You can choose Japanese or Western breakfast. The rooms are extremely spacious, and the view over the bay and Great Seto Bridge is great. The furnishings could use a much more modern update.