Taku City Hotel Matsuya

The front desk staff were very polite and took the time to explain things. The hotel might suit someone looking for a cheap place, but the room is extremely small and the bed is very hard. The shower kept switching between hot and cold, and the kettle was wet inside, smelled bad, and was full of mold. I boiled water in it once, but the smell stayed, so I got worried and stopped using it.

I ended up taking a nap in the car because I was cold and sleepy. About an hour later, another staff member came out and called me. Earlier, I'd gone to the front desk about the cold air, and they explained the controls before coming to my room. The display showed the heat set to 30 degrees, but the air still felt cold. They checked the other rooms, then left and didn't come back. Apparently someone had set the air conditioning in another room, so my room was getting air conditioning even though I had the heat on? I'd already been feeling unwell that morning, so be careful in winter.

The room had a relaxing feel, was spotless, and even had a blanket. The front desk staff were friendly and kind. My father used to say the breakfast was delicious, which made me curious, but it's currently suspended due to the pandemic. There are only two hotels in Kitataku-cho, this one and Takua, and this business hotel has been here for many years. Since it's up in the mountains, there aren't any convenience stores nearby. Still, at around 5000 yen per person per night, the price is reasonable, and I'd stay again if I'm in the area.

There isn't much nearby, so it's best to pick up what you need before checking in. You'll need to ask about using the washing machine, and the front desk sells canned beer and canned chu-hi. I stayed one night on a short cycling trip and they were very helpful with bicycle parking. The hospitality was excellent, and I was very satisfied. It's not especially fancy or stylish, but it's practical and perfectly fine as a place to stay. There's one large public bath separate from the rooms, though it works more like a family bath: you have to lock the entrance before using it, which could be inconvenient if other guests are waiting.