Shari Central Hotel

I was here for a business trip, but came away more tired than when I arrived. The room had no air conditioning or way to control the temperature. There was a household fan, but all it did was move the air around. It couldn’t bring down the heat, which reached nearly 40°C during the day, and it was so hot at night I couldn’t sleep. The TV doesn’t support data broadcasting, so I had to check the weather and similar information on my phone. Amenities were replaced every two days. Body wash came in a bottle, but shampoo was only available in single-use pouches. Since I showered morning and evening, including at night when it was hot, I’d suggest anyone staying several nights bring their own shampoo.

At 6600 yen, it was affordable compared with other places nearby, and well placed for Shiretoko National Park. The train and bus station are a two-minute walk away, with restaurants and a 24-hour convenience store close by. The facilities aren’t new, but they’re clean and well maintained. There’s no air conditioning, but the fan was enough for the heat in the area. Wi-Fi worked perfectly, and the room had a refrigerator, toiletries, shampoo, and shower gel. The staff were very friendly and did their best to help. Highly recommended.

At just 5,500 yen a night, having a unit bath in the room felt like a real blessing for someone like me, always moving between guesthouses on a budget. I was traveling solo and got to use a spacious twin room. It came with an electric kettle, yukata, toothbrush, bath towel, and face towel. There was even a desk mirror, so I could sit down to do my makeup. The on-site coin laundry isn’t new, but it was very handy: washing cost 200 yen and the dryer was 100 yen for 30 minutes. The owner was attentive, explained how to use it, and kindly welcomed me and saw me off. I’d recommend this place to budget travelers. If you want luxury, you might find it a little dated, though the room is still very nice. I couldn’t find a reservation website, so I booked by phone!

The owner was really kind and made my overnight stop on a motorcycle trip pleasant. It’s an older business hotel, right in front of Shari Station, with a roadside station and Secoma convenience store nearby. Traveling alone, I had plenty of space. Smoking is allowed in the hallway. I didn’t find the smell bothersome, but people sensitive to smells should probably skip this hotel.