Central Hotel Takeo Onsen

The onsen was a real bonus, and we met some lovely local people who showed us great hospitality on our restaurant outings. The location is very convenient. The room turned out a little smaller than I expected, but I’d come back.

The free buffet had lots of food to choose from, and there’s an onsen with a small outdoor bath as well as an indoor one. The bathing tax is ¥150, paid on the spot. It’s a one-minute walk from the station, though the entrance faces away from it. A few things could be better: there was a brief blackout in many rooms at night, and the lift sometimes smelled of smoke. We also ran out of the hotel tissues overnight, so having a spare box would’ve helped.

Breakfast was really good, with a nice mix of eggs, vegetables, bread, meat, and other choices. At check-in, you pick a 30-minute breakfast slot, and your ticket shows when you can enter the restaurant. There’s also a large public bath. The hotel is close to the Takeo Onsen station exit by the bookstore and the bullet train and express train entrance. The station convenience store stays open until 8pm, a grocery store is 400 meters away, and there are plenty of nearby restaurants. I also walked to Takeo City library, Takeo Onsen, and the TeamLab art exhibit at Mifune hotel, up the hill. A couple of room issues stood out. The smoke sensor above the bed has a bright green LED that bothered me at night, and the bathroom air exchange system is loud. There’s a note asking guests to leave it on 24 hours. Soundproofing could be better too, since I could hear other guests slamming doors from 6:30am.

The room was a bit tiny, which is why I’d give this four stars, but everything was super clean and the service felt like a five-star hotel. Staff quickly stored and brought back our bags, and most of them speak English. The hotel’s onsen on the 8th floor even has a discreet outdoor balcony where you can cool off. It’s only 50 meters from the station, an easy walk even in the rain. Breakfast was a highlight, with lots of choices, cold Boss coffee, and hot coffee from local roaster Hokao Coffee. That was the best coffee I’ve had in Japan.