Hotel Tokachi Inn

Staying here is affordable for such a convenient location. At check-in, nobody explained the facilities, though there are warning signs everywhere, especially around the elevators. I also heard the bathtub water is yellow. I didn't run a bath, but I don't think showering in water like that would be pleasant. Even if tests say the water is fine, seeing it yellow in Japan feels a bit concerning. If you're bringing a car, the front desk asks for your license plate number, so have it written down before you check in.

For a work trip, this wasn't a place I'd choose again. I'd even ask my company about switching hotels next time. It's about a seven-minute walk from Obihiro Station, the bed was made neatly, and there were plenty of amenities, plus a microwave, water dispenser, and disposable chopsticks. The staff were basically kind, and the shampoo and conditioner were acceptable for my hair. The shower was the biggest problem. Its pressure pulsed at regular intervals, and the temperature swung from hot to suddenly cold as the pressure changed. In winter, that was miserable. I reported it, but the staff hadn't known about it and didn't seem ready to do anything. They said the hot water might fluctuate when other guests use the single pipe, though that didn't explain the regular pulsing. The water was cloudy, as other reviews mention, and the dispenser on the fifth floor gave out discolored water. I used the lobby dispenser instead, which uses bottled water. The fifth-floor unit seemed to be connected to the water pipes. The bathroom also had visible mold and dirt. Central air conditioning meant I couldn't set the room to a comfortable temperature, and the vents were dusty and moldy. They suggested opening the windows to adjust the temperature, but there were no screens, so insects could get in. Mold covered the window frames and seals too. The humidifier already had water in it when I arrived, and I had no idea how long it had been there. I emptied it during my multi-night stay, then checked after housekeeping, but it hadn't been refilled. I suspect the water was left by the previous guest. There was grime where the bottle sits as well, so I couldn't bring myself to use it and relied on the bathroom's humidity instead. The electric kettle looked 34 years old, was stained inside, and too dirty to use. I used the lobby dispenser for hot water. There's no laundry in the hotel, and they directed me to one a kilometer away. A sister hotel near Obihiro Station has laundry in the changing room by its hot springs, but the hot spring discount didn't seem like good value. Guests staying several nights can get a ticket for a free hot spring visit if they decline room cleaning. I think laundry cost 300 yen, and drying was 200 yen for 20 or 30 minutes.

Free parking with flexible hours and a spot near the station were the convenient parts of my two-night stay for Tokachi Marche. Still, I don't think I'd book this place again. The room photos are only examples, so keep that in mind when choosing. I wanted a table and chairs, but the room I got didn't have them and was smaller than I expected. For two people, there was nowhere for luggage, just wall hangers that wouldn't take long clothes, and no lockers for getting clothes out of our bags. The TV was small, the facilities basic, and the air conditioning hard to adjust. I booked a standard simple plan twin room with a renovated bathroom and toilet. Those were small and awkward to use, and felt suited only to showering. I tried the bath at the sister hotel, Gardens Hotel, on the first day. It was too hot for me and had no outdoor bath, so it wasn't a fit. I chose eco-cleaning for the consecutive nights and got a bath ticket, but didn't use it. One other note, the women's amenities had no lotion. There was moisturizing cream, but it was rather hard, so bring your own.

Right by the downtown area, so it's fine if all you need is somewhere to sleep 😄. The front desk staff are really friendly. There's a private lot, but it fills up quickly; if parking feels tricky, I'd use the affiliated lot. Discounted tickets for the hot springs are available for the affiliated Tokachi Gardens Hotel.