REF Matsuyama City Station by Vessel Hotels

The hotel was quiet overall, with no white noise, though I could hear subdued sounds from the railway crossing. There was a slight cold draft near the window, and the shower would suddenly get scalding hot for no apparent reason. Maybe the communal bath is a better option. I don't think guests should complain too much about language, since you're in Japan. I do agree that calling yourself 4-star is a bit much. The check-in setup felt disconnected, and they had you tie up and retrieve your own luggage by the wall.

The breakfast was a bright spot. There were lots of citrus juices to choose from, which was a fun experience, and local Matsuyama dishes like Nabeyaki Udon and Tai Meshi. It was very busy, though. I also didn't feel the service was up to hotel standards. I was greeted coldly, without a smile or expression, and felt unwelcome, as if being a foreigner was the reason. I didn't notice the same attitude toward Japanese speakers. No one explained at check-in how the free breakfast worked. The room looked acceptable and modern, but I didn't like that the sink was outside the bathroom. The soundproofing was terrible. I could hear people walking, talking, and opening and closing doors. Large groups would gather by the elevators on my floor and talk loudly, and there were kids screaming and running around. The elevators took a very long time. I'd read the reviews about the waits, but it was worse than I expected, with several minutes just to get in. I had a very unpleasant stay and probably wouldn't book here again.

The onsen offers a lot for the price: an indoor and outdoor bath, a cold plunge pool, and a sauna all together. My room was clean and larger than I expected, with a beautiful view of Matsuyama Castle on a clear day. I hadn't expected the staff to speak so little English, but it worked out fine.

The check-in staff seemed mostly interested in sending guests to the machines, and leaving luggage was casual too, with guests securing and retrieving it themselves. Still, it's a nice hotel with train details, including hand straps that I loved. The ice cream was perfect, breakfast was good, and the sauna was decent. Of course, with dogo onsen here, most people go there instead.