Hotel Select Inn Furukawa

The free curry is a welcome perk, and the nearby restaurants, FamilyMart, and pachinko parlor make the location handy. There’s more room here than at the cramped chains around Furukawa, and the public bath is clean and easy to use. The building has an old-fashioned feel, with steps in the hallway and an interior that reminds me of Kōrakuen, though this place is much cleaner. My room was fine for one night, but the dusty air conditioner wouldn’t blow warm air, there was no heated toilet seat or bidet, and there were no lace curtains. The sink was awkward too. Its faucet spout is short, and with half the counter missing, washing my hands and face was difficult. After showering, I tried running hot water into the tub and it looked brownish. Maybe the old pipes are reaching their limit.

The room was surprisingly spacious for a single, and the bed and sheets were clean. Front desk staff were very polite, and I enjoyed the free curry. It was tasty for something complimentary, and I certainly got my fill, lol. The building and facilities are old, with an atmosphere more like an old employee dormitory than a hotel, especially around the public bath, dining room, hallways, and toilets. Some areas have been updated, though, and I had no particular concerns about cleanliness or convenience. Previous complaints seem to have been addressed quite a bit. I booked with a last-minute discount and a Jalan coupon, so the value was great and I gave it five stars. At full price, I’d probably rate it a little lower. Still, it wasn’t nearly as bad as the reviews made it sound. I think the ratings will improve from here. I stayed one night without meals.

The evening curry after check-in is a nice extra, and breakfast is pretty good too. I often stay here when I go fishing on the Araogawa River. It’s a reasonably priced business hotel, with plenty of bars, restaurants, and convenience stores close by.

At 4,900 yen for the night, I expected better. The room had a moldy smell and peeling wallpaper, and there weren’t any spare outlets. To use the provided hair dryer, I had to keep unplugging something else, which also made charging my phone a hassle. I’ve run into unhelpful hotels like this before, so bringing a splitter turned out to be a good idea. If I’m back in Osaki City, I’ll book elsewhere, even if it costs more, as long as there’s a room available.