Smile Hotel Otsu Seta

The room was small but fine, with a good bed and a minibar. They cleaned twice a week, and would bring fresh towels daily if you asked. The train station is about 100 m away, with good restaurants and little shops nearby.

A great spot to spend the night, right beside the station and two convenience stores. There are lots of places to eat nearby, and they even provide a map. The staff were really friendly and did their best to recommend places and help me figure things out.

The room was clean, though I noticed a few scuffs. They freshen rooms every day unless you put out the do not disturb sign. Seta train station is right next door, and there are several restaurants within walking distance plus a convenience store. The staff speak English and were friendly and accommodating, including with requests and restaurant suggestions. On my trip, breakfast was free for hotel guests from 6:30am to 9am, served buffet-style in the second-floor lounge. The coffee machine was available during those hours, then again from about 3pm to 10pm.

My first stay at a Smile Hotel was in Towada, and I liked it enough to book two Smile hotels on this trip. This one felt dirty and run-down, though. They should hire more staff. Smile hotels are only a little cheaper than Comfort or Super, but seem to have less than a third as many staff. The staff looked tired and couldn’t get through their tasks as quickly as people at other hotels.