HOTEL R9 The Yard Ube

The Yard locations seem awkward to get around on foot, but as a simple place to stay, this one worked well for me. The rooms were comfortable unless the weather was really bad, and the air conditioning did its job. You also don’t have neighbors above, below, or on either side, so there’s no usual hotel-room noise coming through.

On my fourth stay at an R9 hotel, and my first in Ube, I found the bathroom had a drain-like smell as soon as I opened the door. That was a letdown after such a good stay at R9 Fukuyama the day before. The desk staff were very businesslike, and I got a key rather than a number lock. They said the lock for my assigned room was broken, so the other rooms may have had number locks.

The room was large enough for one person, and having a microwave in it was handy. There was also a two-door fridge, which seemed unusual, probably because each night comes with a frozen snack. I was curious about this container-based trailer hotel and decided to give it a try. You get a code at check-in to enter the room, so take a picture of it on your phone. There was quite a bit of condensation, perhaps because of the season. Even with a bathroom fan, water from the toilet tank and pipes dripped onto the floor, likely because of the difference between the room and water temperatures. The chair was a matter of taste for me. A regular business chair would have been fine.

That complimentary frozen bento snack was a highlight, and seeing all those containers lined up had a real appeal for my manly side. The in-room massage chair only worked on my shoulders and lower back, but it was better than I expected. At 4,600 yen, the price was just too cheap. I’ll definitely come back.