Tabist Hotel Tonami

The futon was comfortable, and the hotel is right in front of the station, so dinner options aren’t a problem. Aeon and Albis supermarkets and a large public bath are within walking distance. The elevator is antique, but it’s been maintained well. Some room outlets don’t work, and the carpet has stains.

At around 6,000 yen for a room without meals, this could be a convenient base for sightseeing. It’s in central Tonami, close to both the shopping street and the train station. The hotel itself is extremely old, though: the elevator doesn’t work properly, the door closer is broken, and the bathroom curtains smell terrible. The owner-run place seems to be managed by an elderly man with a rather overbearing, old-fashioned service style. He was polite when explaining the parking, so he doesn’t seem like a bad person. Guests have to leave the key at the front desk when going out, but it sits openly on the counter, which made me question how safe that is. It all felt pretty suspicious.

The nearby shops close early, which is a shame. I read that bathwater had sprayed out of a drain in an earlier review, and it happened in our spacious room too. We found the drain pipe wasn’t pointed toward the drain, made a simple fix, and had no more trouble after that. The place may feel old-fashioned in many ways, but I thought it would be nice to stay at an inn like this once in a while. I personally like the retro hair dryer, lol. If I’m in Tonami again, I’ll stop by.

For a room-only stay, this seems like a good choice. It was my first time here. The rooms use keys, and payment is cash only. There are no vending machines, but the staff kindly showed me where drinks were available and pointed out nearby shops. The doors lock at 11 pm, so if you think you’ll need to go out, it’s best to buy drinks beforehand.