Oyo Hotel Yakumo Matsue

The bus stop is only two minutes away, so getting to Matsue Station is easy if you catch the bus at the right time. I took off my shoes at the entrance and changed into slippers. The shared room was old, had no refrigerator, and seemed like it’d be rough in the middle of summer. The bathroom seal was moldy, which bothered me. There’s no car, and it’s worth thinking twice about staying here: the area is pitch black at night. A convenience store is a little over five minutes away, and the supermarket is about the same distance but closes late at night. They’re described as nearby, though they didn’t feel that close to me. I picked this place because the affordable hotels around Matsue Station were full. I’d checked online and saw there was no hair dryer, so I called that morning and was told I could borrow one at reception. The front desk closes early, so call ahead if you expect to arrive late.

I stayed in 2024 in a second-floor twin corner room by myself for ¥5500-. The elderly woman at reception was kind and friendly. Still, I won’t stay there again. The building had a strange smell as soon as I walked in, maybe like a hoarder’s house, though I’ve never actually been in one. The room itself didn’t smell of cigarettes, but the air conditioner was awful, with vents covered in black mold. The unit bathroom was covered in it too. My nose and throat got sore, and it took a week to recover fully.

If you can live with all this, maybe it’s fine, but I couldn’t relax or unwind there. I’m going to tell my company this hotel is a no-go. It’s stairs up to the third floor, with no elevator. The front desk seemed to be saving energy, and the room lights were off at night, which made it feel like something might come out. The water, even from the dispenser, tasted like tap water and really wasn’t good. There was no fridge or cups in the room, and you had to ask the front desk for a toothbrush. They wouldn’t lend me a hairdryer unless I asked. I’d booked and paid in advance, so although I wanted to cancel and go somewhere else, I had to stay the one night. The interior is very old, like stepping back into the Showa era. The TV was average. Anyone particular about cleanliness, especially people with allergies, really shouldn’t stay. Dust covered the room air conditioner filter and it made me feel sick. The air conditioner didn’t work, so I changed rooms, but that room’s filter hadn’t been cleaned either. I ended up having to take it out. It felt like it hadn’t been cleaned in years and was very unsanitary.

For sleeping, the air conditioning wasn’t an issue, though it might not cool very well in summer. My room was ordinary and didn’t have any noticeable smell. There was a shared refrigerator and the water dispenser was basically free to use. It’s somewhat far from the city center, but plenty of supermarkets nearby meant that wasn’t a problem for me. I think it’s a reasonable place for the price.