Royal Inn Mito

Everything was good except the bidet function. It didn't work very well, and I couldn't adjust its position.

For the price, the room was spacious, especially by Japan standards, and the hotel was very affordable. It’s close to Mito station, with a 7 eleven directly across the road. The staff were friendly, and the stay was simple and fuss free. I’d stay here again if I’m in the area.

Mito Station is about a five-minute walk away, and the 7-11 across from the entrance is handy for picking up odds and ends. Kairakuen park is a straight walk, around 20-30 minutes away. The route follows scenic Senba Lake, which makes for a pleasant walk. The hotel is a little south of the station and good value for the price, with large rooms for Japan and professional, friendly staff. The views aren't amazing, but I didn't have much to complain about. My room had a simple, tasteful design and two desks with chairs, both comfortable for working. The air-conditioning had responsive temperature control, and there was an air purifier. You can open the window for fresh air. Yellow lighting gave the room a nice feel, and the bedside lamp had a brightness knob. The bathroom was a decent size, the hot water worked well, and the tub had convenient one-knob temperature control. There were three hangers in a small nook with a rail. Towels and pyjamas were in the room, but most smaller bathroom amenities had to be picked up in the lobby near the front counter. Check-in starts at 14:00 and checkout is by 11:00. Cleaning uses the usual magnetic strips on the door, either “do not disturb” or “make up room.” Cleaning is expected between about 11:00 and 14:00, though it may start a little earlier. The breakfast buffet on the 12th floor was pretty good, with a compact but sufficient selection. If you pay for breakfast at check-in, you get a ticket for each morning and hand one over at the venue.

The first night was awful. They had no non-smoking rooms available, and ours smelled like an ashtray so badly that it wouldn't clear. The hallways were smoky too, which was especially rough as a non-smoker. There was also peeling wallpaper in our room. The next night they moved us to a non-smoking room, and it was 1000% better and looked nicer. Maybe the smoke is what ruins the wallpaper?