Smile Hotel - Utsunomiya Higashiguchi

The staff were amazing, but the one-night stay was the only thing that made me smile. My room was extremely small, and the shower seemed 50 years old. It also had a certain aroma, so I wondered if this is a smoking hotel. I'd avoid it unless nothing else is available.

The employees were polite and helpful, and the location near the station is good. The double room was an okay size. Still, I wouldn't return if I could avoid it. It's an old hotel geared toward Japanese business travelers, and the breakfast wasn't very good, though it wasn't expensive either. Despite being in a non-smoking room on a non-smoking floor, everything smelled of tobacco. I suspect sheets and towels get used indiscriminately, which could be where the smell comes from. At night I woke up to a strong tobacco odor, possibly from a guest smoking on another floor. Internet was decent when it worked, but I kept losing the connection about every five minutes.

I stayed one night and had no issues. The room had a small fridge without a freezer, a kettle, tea, an ethernet cord, and bathroom amenities. There wasn't coffee in the room, but free coffee was available on 1F, and I brought my own drip coffee for the morning. Wifi worked fine. There are vending machines and coin laundry on site, with convenience stores nearby. Breakfast was available, though I didn't try it this time. Clean, close to the station, and perfectly fine for a few nights. I'd stay again.

The breakfast buffet really stood out, and I was satisfied overall. The bed and room were clean and cozy, and the wifi was free. There was no drinking water in the fridge, though, and the bathtub was a bit tiny. Bring your own water or buy some before checking in.