Hotel Shuzanso

I’ve used business hotels for decades, and as someone born in the Showa era, this one suited me well. The room-only rate was cheap. I was here for a concert, and Odate Hokushika Hall was less than a 10-minute walk away. There’s a convenience store nearby too, plus a hot spring. If you’re driving, I’d suggest soaking there before check-in. I’d forgotten my phone charger, so I asked the front desk. They had a good selection and lent me the one I picked. If you choose a hotel for its price, you have to be a bit patient ☺️

I only stayed one night in this fairly old building. The receptionist was kind, the hallways had air conditioning, and my room seemed well cleaned. I’d asked for a non-smoking room, and it seemed properly deodorized. I could park my motorcycle under a roof. The downsides were a small bathroom, thin walls, and no washlet on the toilet. The dial air conditioner was too strong, even on its lowest setting, and I couldn’t find a non-smoking option when searching, so I assume all rooms may allow smoking. If I stayed again, I’d book breakfast too, since it sounds like they serve a lot.

There’s free indoor parking for motorcycles. The room is small but adequate, and the convenience store is about a three-minute walk away.

The phone service was extremely rude, and they never returned my calls. The air conditioning didn’t work, and the futon had a slight moldy smell that made it uncomfortable to sleep on. They also charged a fee for paying by card on site. When I asked if guests were supposed to pay card fees, they told me that was common practice at their hotel. I’ll never stay here again.