Mitsui Garden Hotel Okayama

The public bath is good and a must-do while you’re there, and I’d strongly recommend the breakfast. It’s a good option near Okayama Station. The room is a bit small, but tolerable for a typical Japanese hotel.

The onsen was far too small for the number of rooms and always packed. I also had mixed service: when I asked the concierge to book a restaurant, one of the three staff I asked seemed annoyed about making a call. If I could speak Japanese, I wouldn’t need to bother you, would I? The other two staff members on different days were super friendly and helpful. The hotel felt like stepping back in time, and even the pajamas looked recycled from an elderly care home. Its convenient location and relative affordability compared with Hotel Granvia next door were about the only positives. I’d trusted Mitsui Garden after good stays in other cities, but the Okayama one didn’t live up to that.

The location is good, with AEON mall across the street and the JR station nearby. I paid 130 USD per night with no breakfast, which felt overpriced for Misui Garden hotel and below expectations. The room was clean, but the style was old and looked like Tokyoko Inn. The air conditioning controls in the room didn’t work, leaving only central heating and no way to adjust the temperature. It was so hot that I couldn’t sleep all night.

After I left some belongings in the room and safety box during my two-night stay, the reception promptly returned my apple pods pro 2 and sent the items from the safety box, including keys, cash, and IDs, back to Taiwan. The hotel team had a great attitude and provided really good service. I joined the hotel club and will stay here again next time I’m in Japan. Well done, and thanks to everyone at the hotel.