HOTEL ROUTE-INN Grand NAGOYA FUJIGAOKA EKIMAE

The location is excellent, close to the bus station, subways and lots of restaurants. Breakfast was good, with bread and Japanese food. The staff were very helpful and tried to chat with us even though we didn't speak Japanese.

The room was new and clean, but small for two adults at 15m2, like most Japanese Chian hotels. We could open one 27” suitcase at a time. There are a washing machine, breakfast cafe and lady onsen facilities around the lobby. Our stay included breakfast, and we got a promo deal by signing up as members on the official website. We also received two coins each for our two-night stay, redeemable for two free Suntory drinks from the vending machine. The surface-level parking right in front of the lobby costs 1500yen per entry per day, and spaces are limited. If you leave and return to that carpark on the same day, you pay 1500 yen again. There's a cheaper 1000yen automated parking lot beside the hotel, but it only fits smaller vehicles. It looked like an elevator-style parking system to me.

The service and cleanliness were good, but the bed was painfully hard, like sleeping on the floor. I know some Japanese people may prefer a firm mattress similar to a thin futon on tatami, but this was too much. The pillow was stiff and hard too, leaving our ears sore and necks stiff. My wife and I tossed and turned all night and got maybe 2-3 hours of sleep before exhaustion set in. We both woke with bad headaches and had to skip Ghibli Park because we felt so awful. What a waste!

We were comfortable here, and the free alcoholic drinks were a nice extra. The train station was nearby, which made it a great base for our visit to Ghibli Park.