Petit Hotel New Hifumi

I’d say it’s fine if you’re traveling alone, especially since the rates are low and it’s around a 10-minute walk from the station. The building and rooms are old. In my Japanese-style room, the lights were either very bright or completely off, and the thin walls let me hear everything next door. There was dust around the TV, and using the hairdryer stirred dust into the air, so the cleaning wasn’t great. There’s a private bath that guests share. Even when nobody’s using it, the bathwater is left in place, with no separation for men and women. The low price is a plus, but I took points off for hygiene in both the room and bath.

The staff were friendly, and the larger private bath felt comfortable, almost like being at home. Parking is right out front and costs 500 yen, payable there. There’s also a FamilyMart nearby. I booked through Rakuten Travel because there are hardly any other options when searching for a tatami room with futons. The building definitely has a retro feel, but the price makes that easy to accept.

My room was clean and comfortable, with no dirt or stains, and the air conditioning could be adjusted individually. The outside and inside look a little old-fashioned, but that didn’t affect my stay. The rooms are locked at night, so you can’t get in late. There is a private bath, though I didn’t look inside and can’t say how the men’s and women’s areas are separated.

I was here for a concert tour. It was reassuring to be able to reserve parking ahead of time, even though there’s a fee, since I was checking in late at night. The staff were polite, the room was comfortable, and I was glad they had a smoking room.