Utsunomiya Higashi Hotel

I stayed one night on December 10, 2025. The room was clean, and the unit bath was a decent size. There was a step between the room and bathroom. It had shampoo, conditioner, body soap, bath towels, towels, a foot mat, disposable slippers, deodorizing spray, instant coffee and sugar (but no Crepe), an air purifier/humidifier, a fridge, and a TV. The nightwear was a little wrinkled. The front desk was staffed, but check-in and payment were done at a single machine. The door was locked, yet it was still possible to get in and out because its protruding part was holding it in place. The room didn't look disturbed, so I wondered if the cleaning staff had locked it incorrectly. On the table to the right of the front desk entrance, I found a free voucher for five gyoza from Juhachiban, the Chinese restaurant behind the building. I used it for lunch the next day.

The outside has a slightly retro look, but the renovated room was clean. The staff were all pleasant, and there were plenty of amenities. I also liked having a coffee machine in the room. I hadn't expected much from a low-priced place so close to the station, but the room was fine. The curtains weren't blackout curtains, so in summer I might wake early if I sleep by the window. I ended up using a hand towel as an eye mask, lol. I'd still be happy to stay here again next time.

I used the hotel to buy a one-day pass for the Light Line. Since the commuter pass office at JR Utsunomiya Station doesn't open until 9:00, it was really convenient to get the ticket earlier. The room rating reflects the staff response.

The room had individual air conditioning, which was nice, especially since the price was lower than places nearby. But as soon as I walked in, the air felt really stuffy. I think it would help to leave the 24-hour ventilation intake open all the time. A friendly staff member greeted me, and seemed like part of a married couple. When booking, you have to put your parking preference in the comments. I reserved a spot in advance for my larger car and easily found an affiliated outdoor lot just a minute from the hotel. The lot I used had only three affiliated spaces, though, so larger vehicles might have a hard time. I had included my car model in my message to the hotel, but they asked me about it again, so perhaps they hadn't taken that into account.