Comfort Hotel Toyama Ekimae

The room was average, but the staff were cheerful and helpful. Breakfast is included and the choices are limited, though hey, it’s free.

The location near the station was handy, and I ended up enjoying my stay. The room felt a bit narrow and dusty, but the breakfast surprised me: simple, yet good and satisfying. You can drink the tap water, too. Just don’t open the TV menu unless you want to see adult movies.

There were lots of thoughtful free extras, from bicycles and leg pillows to nail clippers, and the coffee was available all day. Vegetarians should find plenty to choose from at breakfast. The hotel is easy to spot from the station if you look in the right direction. Two things bothered me: doing 4.5 kg of laundry costs ￥300, which seems pricier than at many other hotels in Japan. And the restaurant felt like a basic canteen, with weak air conditioning. Maybe that’s to discourage people from lingering. Still, the location is really convenient.

The only thing I wasn't keen on was the rather thin pillow. Otherwise, there was a lot to like: breakfast had far more choice than I expected, and you can pack it in a bento box to eat in your room or take with you. The kale smoothie was unusual for a hotel breakfast in Japan. There's also free coffee and tea in the work lounge, where breakfast is served, plus complimentary bike rental. My room had a ceramic coffee mug, and the WiFi was fast. It's close to Toyama Station and offers good amenities. It isn't the cheapest place nearby, but I thought it was good value.