Business Hotel Ishimura

The room had a clean, non-smoking feel, with no unpleasant smell, despite its Showa-era Western-style look. It was great to have a bath with a bidet at a price not much different from places with shared toilets and bathrooms. Convenience stores and soba restaurants are within walking distance. I booked online at the last minute and hadn’t said I’d arrive by motorcycle, but they kindly found me a spot sheltered from the rain. The owner-like person and front desk staff were helpful and very kind, and I didn’t run into the unpleasant service others have mentioned.

For 6,000 yen room only, it’s enough as a place to sleep: there’s a unit bath and free parking, though the rooms are small and the facilities old. The man who seems to be the owner really doesn’t have a great attitude. You can come and go any time, and checkout is easy, just leave the key in a locker. There are convenience stores, family restaurants, and ramen shops around, plus an izakaya near the station, so finding food and drinks isn’t a problem.

The thin walls were a problem. I could clearly hear the person next door coughing and making clattering noises. The room itself wasn’t bad, but check-in at 16:00 and checkout at 10:00 gives you only 18 hours at most, so it feels like you’re paying for two-thirds of a day rather than a full one. That can be inconvenient, especially if you need to leave early in the morning, and the price can seem high for the time you get.

The room is old, but it has everything needed and was perfectly fine. The location is great, close to the station and just off the highway, with plenty of good restaurants nearby.