BUSINESS HOTEL La Firenze

The rooms were comfortable and clean, breakfast was good, and the staff were friendly. It's reasonably priced, too. The hotel is a bit far from Tokyo, though, so plan your day around the trains if you're sightseeing. The last train from Tokyo to Yatsuka station, the nearest one to the hotel, leaves at 11:30 p.m.

My room was fairly big by Japanese standards, though everything felt old and smelled strongly of cigarettes. The windows were covered by a huge metal slab that blocked the view. They said it was for safety; I wondered if the place had been a love hotel or brothel, with the covering hiding indecency, but that's only my suspicion. Check my pictures. There are no non-smoking floors, and apparently only one non-smoking room, which was already taken. Smoke was everywhere, and I hated it. Getting the smell out of my clothes cost me about 70 US dollars. The TV was even smaller than my netbook screen. The room itself was okay, but it all reeked of cigarette smoke, and there were slot machines on the floors. The complimentary breakfast was surprisingly good, with soup, chicken wings, and meatballs. I booked this because it was New Year's Eve and the only option under 100 US dollars. I arrived late, and city hotels were going for 300 US dollars, which I wasn't willing to pay. It wasn't exactly a mistake, but it was hugely inconvenient. The hotel is right at the edge of Tokyo Prefecture, next to Satama Prefecture and about 15 km from where you probably want to go. I know Tokyo well and speak a little Japanese, so I managed. You need to take the Tobu Line, and the last train from Tokyo leaves around 11:30 p.m. Some express trains don't stop at yazuka station, where you need to get off, so check before boarding. It takes about an hour from Shinjuku-Ku or half an hour from Tokyo Skytree, the tickets cost a fortune, and then there's roughly a 2 km walk to the hotel. It's easy enough to find if you look it up online first. After all that hassle, arriving at this so-so hotel was a letdown. The decor looked like Barbie and Ken's worst Las Vegas nightmare. As an architect, I found it terrible, though that's just my taste. Everything was worn out and tacky, and the cigarette smell was all over the place. The slot machines on every floor felt awkward, too. Staff were very accommodating and friendly, which kept this dump from getting one star. Next time I'll stay at the airport and definitely won't come back. That's what happens when you don't want to spend big in Tokyo.

It was an average stay overall. The staff were courteous, and breakfast was good, though it was served rather than set out as a buffet. The hotel is decent, but the train station is a walk of about 14 minutes away, with no bus stop nearby. I think that's common in Japan.

A very simple but clean place, with a futon for the bed and a balcony where you can smoke. Central Tokyo is about 45 minutes away.