Hotel Route-Inn Aso Kumamoto Airport Ekimae

It's close to the station, with a free airport shuttle nearby, and there's an onsen, a convenience store, and an Aeon mall right next door. The building is a little old, and breakfast is very standard, but the location makes it good value.

I came by car for one night and was happy to find plenty of parking. It's also well placed for train travelers. There are a couple of convenience stores nearby and a supermarket within walking distance. The concierge were very friendly and helpful, and kept reminding me about the free coffee and tea in the lobby. I liked the traditional Japanese breakfast buffet at the cafe. Nothing fancy, just the usual options.

Breakfast starts at 06:30, and it can get crowded right at opening. The food is sometimes cold in the serving dishes, though you can ask them to warm it up. A standard breakfast is included in the rate. Rooms at this Route Inn are a bit larger than at most of their hotels, especially with the double bed.

There are restaurants within walking distance, with Lawson, KFC and 7-11 right out front, so the location is handy. The rooms are a little bigger than usual for a Route Inn, with a double bed and small cupboard, while the bathroom is the standard Route Inn setup. The split system AC heats and cools well. Breakfast is standard, but there's a large area with lots of tables. Wi-Fi is fast, though the signal may be weak, so you might need a LAN-Wi-Fi adapter. Rooms facing north can be noisy because they're close to the train station.