Art Apartment AOCA Sanno RAGNER

The room was the biggest problem for me. It smelled so bad that I bought three air fresheners, and even those didn’t fix it. The washroom hadn’t been cleaned properly, and there were leftovers in the fridge from the previous guest. Check-in also dragged on, around 20 minutes per person. They do leave some useful things downstairs for guests, like heaters and umbrellas. I know the nearby train isn’t the hotel’s fault, and they offer one free earplug per guest, which I found a funny solution. But at this price, the stay wasn’t worth it. I’d understand these issues at a cheaper, lower-end hotel.

The hotel looks nice, with its graffiti and street-style decor, and it’s about a 10-minute walk from the station, with a don Quijote next door. But the room hadn’t been properly cleaned or checked before we arrived. There was a used ice cube tray in the freezer, half full of frozen cubes of what looked like lemon juice, and urine stains on the toilet seat. It gave us the impression of staying on the street. The rest of the stay was mediocre at best. The staff need to pay closer attention to cleanliness and detail. And if you’re a light sleeper, be aware that it’s fairly close to the tracks, lol.

The walk to the station suited us. We got to walk every day, which felt like a big change from always driving around and sitting on the couch. It’s not right beside the station, though, so if that matters to you, book somewhere closer. The location makes things accessible, and the atmosphere gave us a feel for everyday Japanese life. People complain about the trains, but we didn’t find the noise that bad. There are trains everywhere in Japan. If you’re after luxury, this probably isn’t your place, and you may prefer a typical expensive hotel around Tokyo or Yokohama. For the price, we had a great experience. Just learn how to separate your trash, and remember this isn’t a hotel, so you clean your own space each day.

It was a decent hotel, though the room was pretty creepy at first, especially the artwork. I got used to it after a couple of nights. The place was freezing, and the nearby level crossing made the train noise irritating. The toilet door is translucent, with the seat right behind it, so you can see almost everything. We bought a rug and covered the door, which made that less of an issue.