Hotel Wajimaya

The bath was the nicest surprise: the jacuzzi felt great, and the small sauna was brand new. There were six washing stations, but I had the place to myself. No cold plunge, just a private shower. The bath heater shuts off at 11 PM, so you can only shower in the morning. A note asked guests to leave the changing room door open afterward. Since there’s only one room, maybe they rent it privately to guests. Breakfast was a generous, homemade-style spread: rice, miso soup, ham and eggs, simmered vegetables, salad, pickles, natto, seaweed, pickled plums and yogurt. Coffee and tea were self-serve. Breakfast at an inn is always good. I picked this business hotel for a one-night personal stay because it’s one minute from the station and inexpensive. It has an old Showa-era inn feel, but it was clean and tidy. Getting into the room was awkward, though. The entryway was narrow, my slippers caught on the sliding door, and my luggage got in the way as I tried to back out. There was no view from the window. The room had a fridge and kettle but no hairdryer. Toothbrush, razor, comb, soap, towels and a yukata were provided. I’d told them I planned to check out at 10 the next morning, but at 9:52 I got an internal call saying checkout was in five minutes and asking me to hurry. They said the fire door was shut and I should use the side entrance. I was leaving by 10 anyway, so it was fine, but I’d never had that happen before.