Hotel Sambancho

The onsen was nice and well maintained, but our room was a big letdown. It felt claustrophobic because there was no natural light, even with the curtains open. The window looked straight onto the hallway, so opening the curtains also meant giving up privacy. The walls were thin too, which won’t work well for light sleepers.

The public baths were great, and there were lots of free amenities. Our room was clean and really comfortable, pajamas included. The hotel is in a good location, and thanks to the kind, helpful staff!

The location was nice, and free laundry was a plus. But the hotel had a strange, off feeling to me. It’s cramped enough that we had to duck while walking through the place, which felt really claustrophobic. The layout was confusing, the floors were tilted, and opening our window meant looking into other rooms and different parts of the hotel. The lobby has been upgraded, but the rest of the very small, old rooms and hotel felt like it hadn’t changed in at least 45 years. There’s no personal check-in, and tattoos aren’t allowed at the onsen. It wasn’t great, but it was okay.

The onsen was a great surprise. It was included for guests and had two 42° baths, one indoors and one outdoors, plus a cold bath. It seemed clean and tidy, and the amenities at the hair station were great. Breakfast on the top floor was extensive and delicious, with a really cool view. For the price, this hotel was pretty amazing. It was quiet but still within walking distance of the mall and team nearby. We had a tiny room for four, and I think it was the only Japanese-style room in the hotel, with tatami and futon. It was cozy, and we managed to make room for our luggage by moving the table and other things. Having a separate key for each of us was awesome. The bathroom was tiny and a little dirty, though it had been cleaned as well as it could be. The decor struck me as a bit tacky-expensive, and the hallways were maze-like. I got lost a couple of times, but otherwise it was worth it.