HOTEL LiVEMAX Iyo Mishima

The hotel was beautiful, and the rooms had recently been renovated. We arrived late to check in, and parking was already full. I did miss having a pool and spa.

The room itself was great, and the location was good. Prices seemed low, perhaps because of the smell. I think the odd odor came from outside, maybe through the ventilation system, and it could get into the room even with the windows shut. I tried incense, but it still stank. It wasn't there all the time, though. It came and went, and eventually stopped. The corridor smelled of cigarettes, and sometimes the odor seemed to drift into my room, probably when someone walked by smoking. It was nice that one staff member spoke English. As a foreign pilgrim on the Ohenro, though, I asked for help booking accommodation by phone and they weren't willing to call for me.

The station is less than five minutes away, and there are bus services at the end of the street. For drivers, the hotel has about 12 parking spaces at ¥500 a night. Fuji Mishima supermarket is a huge and convenient store, a 3-4 minute walk away. There's also a small 7-11 across the road from it for late-night needs, and Macdonalds Iyo Mishima branch is a minute or two from the supermarket. It's basic comfort, but the location is convenient and I felt it was good value. There are cheaper and more expensive options, of course.

My room felt fresh and had everything included. Good hotel for a low price.