Jr West Group Via Inn Umeda

We liked the thoughtful touch of fresh towels being hung on the door even though we’d put up a “do not clean” sticker. The room was clean, breakfast included was perfectly fine, and the hotel was a bit small, though that’s normal enough in Japan. The stay was pleasant and comfortable. One thing caught us off guard: at arrival we were told to pay an extra 400 yen per person, 800 yen total, as an accommodation tax, even though our reservation said all taxes were included. It hadn’t been clearly explained beforehand. Staff used Google Translate to explain it, but couldn’t give us a clear explanation in English, which was confusing and frustrating when we weren’t expecting another charge. Aside from that, everything else was good.

The staff were gentle and kind, and I’d like to stay again. My room had been cleaned well, and I felt relaxed and safe there. The hotel looks new, with clean, simple interiors. It’s right in the middle of a shopping arcade, very close to the nearest station, and you can walk to the hotel under cover if it’s raining. There’s a SEVEN-ELEVEN on the first floor, so you can pick up what you need even at midnight.

Ms. Tani at reception was exceptionally lovely and made our stay really pleasant. The hotel is conveniently located, the price was reasonable, and our room was larger than a typical Japanese hotel room. We had a great stay.

The breakfast room is spacious and comfortable, with a nice view. It’s a shame they close the area when breakfast ends instead of letting people sit there with coffee in the afternoon. That would be much better than the so-called lounge, which is just two chairs and a table in the elevator lobby. They should make better use of such a good space. As for the room, it was typically small for a Japanese city hotel. Check-in is at 3 pm, and getting in earlier costs extra. I think that’s poor service. Why not let people in once a room is ready? We supposedly pay for 24 hours, not nine. Whatever happened to noon check-in?