HOTEL R9 The Yard Matsusaka

The room was roomy and clean, and there was plenty of parking.

I've stayed at R9 five times now and usually look it up when I'm traveling because the prices are reasonable. Parking right outside my room is handy, and the place still feels new and clean. The front desk staff are polite and nice, and I could hardly hear the people next door. There's no musty old-hotel smell either.

My room was set back from the road, so traffic noise wasn't especially loud. It could be unpleasant if you're closer, though they do provide earplugs for free. The only real drawback for me was that there are no smoking rooms, so I ended up smoking in my car, which I could park right by the room. I wish business hotels had smoking rooms as an option. I wanted to try a container hotel for a while, and this was my chance. It was about as comfortable as an ordinary business hotel, with strong shower pressure, a fridge, microwave, kettle, air purifier, Wi-Fi, TV, electronic key lock, and free frozen food. Being able to leave whenever I wanted because the car was right outside was convenient. On a weekday, the double room cost 5,800 yen, and I'm not sure if that's cheap or expensive. I'd say it suits business trips or traveling alone, but not families.

The separate room buildings mean you don't really hear the neighbors, though large vehicles on the main road are audible. It didn't bother me much. The hotel is easy to spot from that road, and there's a convenience store nearby. Check-in is at the building just inside the property. We could pick one amenity and a frozen snack, such as pilaf, yakisoba, or curry. The room was spacious, with a large fridge and microwave, which I really appreciated. I'd like to stay here again.