HOTEL R9 The Yard Koge

This is a small container building with around 20 rooms, conveniently right off the highway. I don't think there's a laundry or vending machine room, though there's a separate vending machine in front of reception. Lawson and 7-Eleven are a bit too far to walk to, but only a short drive away. The massage chairs are why I'm giving it 3 stars...

I booked online expecting a double room for one, but somehow ended up in a twin. A single-use double bed room is more convenient for me. There's a desk where I can work on my iPad, so next time I'll be sure to pick the double room for one. That's it.

I usually stay at R9 once or twice a month, but chose Jomo this time because it's near a hot spring. A travel site review had praised the receptionist, but at check-in they asked for personal details beyond what I'd entered in Hotel Smart. I was there with my daughter, and in 40 years of staying at different business hotels and inns, I'd never been so persistently asked for the pronunciation of my companion's name and her phone number. I'd booked through August, but canceled all those reservations. [Additional Note] The owner replied that they ask guests for their name, address, and contact information, so here's some more detail. I had already entered the representative's name, address, phone number, and so on in Hotel Smart. I only wrote my companion's last name, figuring that was enough since she was family. At check-in, they banged on the table and told me her name wasn't entered. After I wrote her name, they asked me to add its pronunciation. When I tried, I realized the phone number was wrong, and they asked me to write my companion's cell number. When I refused, they asked for her address. After all that, I felt uncomfortable and angry. I probably won't go back to Jomo. I wonder if all R9s are like this now. I've used R9 quite often, but this was the first time I'd experienced this kind of behavior, and honestly, I'm hesitant to stay at R9 in the future.

The room had everything I needed, including a large LCD TV, double bed, microwave, and two-door refrigerator, and the air conditioning worked well. The facilities were the same as at the Kohoku branch I reviewed before, and I found them very comfortable. I even fell asleep in the chair while using the massage function. Check-in is at reception, then they give you a PIN for your room's electronic lock. You also get amenities and free frozen breakfast items. The hotel is along a main road, with Yunosako Onsen Taiheiraku nearby for a day trip. Despite the road, I didn't notice noise or vibration inside the container. I usually don't stay on weekends, but this time there seemed to be a lot of couples. It is like a detached motel, after all. For dinner, there's an izakaya and restaurant inside the Taiheiraku facility, or you can buy prepared dishes or bento boxes at the direct sales store if you go early.