Hotel Sarapark

There’s not much to recommend beyond the nice-looking building, so keep your expectations low. The dorm is especially poor: no safe for valuables, hangers, or slippers, and the shower rooms are cramped. I also don’t understand why the dining area costs extra. Worst of all, guests’ personal information was carelessly disclosed to other people. Protecting privacy is basic, and they failed at it. I’ve stayed in love hotels and internet cafes that felt better than this. Since this is the only accommodation in Sarabetsu Village, people staying there have no alternative. It feels like the place takes advantage of that and puts in little effort because there’s no competition. In a city, I think it would lose customers and have to close.

For lunch, I went with the priciest course because I wanted dessert, and the tiramisu was smooth and tasty. The meal started with seven small à la carte appetizer dishes, just the right size for a bite. You can pick dried or fresh pasta, and choose two drinks, one before and one after eating. It came to around 2000 yen. The stylish building and lovely atmosphere made it feel like a fancy lady’s lunch (lol). It’s a small village, but all the restaurants here are delicious, and this one is especially nice. I really enjoyed my elegant weekday lunch.

For the price, it’s a pretty good place to stay. The room is comfortable and the new facility has lots of the latest fixtures, though the cleaning could be better. When I arrived, women’s hairs were scattered around the room. Maybe they’re easier to spot because the floor isn’t carpeted, but still. There’s nowhere to put a bath towel while showering, so I wish they’d provide a chair for it. An electric kettle in the room would be nice too.

The bed was comfortable, and having the toilet separate was handy. The shower room is small, but that didn’t bother me. It was my first time using the room, and I borrowed a key from the reception across the street. There’s a kettle in the hallway, and you can pick up instant ramen or coffee at the nearby Secoma. They also provide toothbrushes and razors.