Hotel Hakusan

I really enjoyed my stay, especially how patient the team was with my limited Japanese. I decided at the last minute to take an earlier ferry from Kumamoto and arrived early, only planning to drop my bag. They kindly offered to check me in early, which I really appreciated. The ferry port is about a 12-minute walk away, or a 4-5 minute bus ride. Aeon mall is around 12 minutes on foot, and the bus stop for Unzen is right outside. Buses in the area, including to and from Unzen, only take cash, with no IC. Shimabara station also sells bus tickets and more. I paid 500yen for a western breakfast. There are three other choices, two Japanese-style breakfasts and a curry. It was nice and easy. If you'd rather eat elsewhere, there's a cafe about five minutes away that opens at 9am. The washing machines are on the 1F in the carpark area, 100yen per 45-minute wash, and the dryer costs the same. Soap packs are sold at the front counter on the 2F for 50yen, and they smell amazing. There's a vending machine on the 1F too. It's about a 30-minute walk to the castle, with some cool stops along the way, so it's not a bad walk.

It was okay.

The room was comfortable, and the staff were warm.

The view was lovely, with mountains and the sea in the background and a yellow train going by. You could hear the railroad crossing, but it didn't keep me awake. The Japanese breakfast I ordered was tasty and plentiful, and all the female staff were very pretty, which brought to mind the rumors that Nagasaki has many beautiful women. Our twin room was surprisingly clean and spacious. The sink area was large, and the bathroom was like one in a typical home, with enough room that a parent and child could probably fit. The bed was large too. The lighting, chairs, and sofa were well made, and I especially liked the retro lighting. I had wondered if this was an old hotel, but it was comfortable, with a nice mix of nostalgic Showa-era charm and modern convenience. The front desk and elevator are both on the second floor, which could be difficult for people who have trouble with stairs. I'd like to stay again.