Center Hotel Mihara

The river view from my room was a real highlight. If you want one, ask reception for a room in the row facing the river, ideally on an upper floor. There are plenty of self-service conveniences, including laundry, a lounge with coffee, and massage chairs. The hotel is close to Mihara JR station, with lots of grocery stores and restaurants nearby. Most memorable were the complimentary breakfast buffet and the free curry rice buffet in the evening. The value for money is hard to beat. The staff were very friendly and did their best to help with questions, even though they spoke little English. I’d book here again if I came back to Hiroshima.

The breakfast was great, almost like something made at home. During Golden Week, the value alone would earn this place five stars. It’s pretty dated and, from a Western point of view, run-down. If you’re fine with a bit of patina, as I am in my Japanese self, staying here feels like stepping into a time capsule.

The meals make this pretty good value: dinner and breakfast are included, and they even give you cake to take for lunch. Still, I’m bothered that the public bath is only for men. That feels very unusual in Japan. They could set separate times for men and women so everyone gets a chance to use it.

The room was on the small side, and even though it was supposed to be non-smoking, it smelled of smoke. There’s a great view from the window, though. I also found the second-floor lounge a really interesting place to hang out, with very comfortable seats.