Hatago Hashimoto

The quiet, peaceful area and the soft, warm blankets were the few comforts. I wouldn't recommend the place to anyone who values comfort. There was no hot water, and the soundproofing was practically nonexistent. Closing one door would make the door on the other side open by itself. I was there in February, and the hotel was very cold. The room could be heated, but the restroom stayed cold the whole time. There was no staff on site, so the only way to reach anyone was by phone.

Being right by Otsu Station made getting around easy, and with an Aeon mall and restaurants nearby, I had everything I needed. The room had a microwave and refrigerator, handy for simple meals. The building is a little dated, but when I stayed in July the shared baths and toilets were very clean and well kept. I'd seen reviews worrying about cleanliness, but I felt at ease. I chose it for the price, location, and unmanned setup, though I was nervous at first. They sent the entrance password in advance; once I got used to it, I unlocked the door with the code and checked in at the monitor inside. The process was simple, and I liked not having to worry about anything else. If shared spaces and an older building are fine with you, it's a comfortable, affordable option.

The place feels more like a shared house than an inn, and you can hear coughing from next door, along with footsteps and vibrations. It's old and not very clean. There's just one washing machine per floor, with nowhere to hang clothes to dry. Although it's described as unoccupied, it felt as if an employee lived there, and I had the sense of being watched. To me, 3000 yen would be a fair price.

I booked around 7 PM at short notice because the price was low, but getting inside turned into a mess. The hotel seemed unmanned, and the entry password was supposed to arrive by email. After 30 minutes, nothing had come, and I couldn't get in. Nobody answered when I called. I refreshed my inbox until an email finally showed up, but the text was garbled and unreadable. I still couldn't figure out the password or enter, and no one picked up the phone. I got more and more frustrated. After an hour, I managed to decipher the message and try a number that looked like the code. It was "1234," garbled in the email, and that really was the password. I seriously questioned their security. The room seemed clean for the price, I thought, but the toilet was shared. When I went at night, a cockroach came into my room. I'd never had a cockroach show up in a hotel room before, and I had nothing to deal with it. I didn't know where it went, couldn't sleep, and had the worst night. When I called to ask if there was space before booking, an older woman answered, but I had trouble understanding her. She took that call, then didn't answer for an hour when I was locked out. For an unmanned hotel, they should at least make sure someone answers the phone. It was extremely inconvenient and irritating. I won't go back. It was cheap, but I want a refund.