Wakayama Urban Hotel

The bedding made us seriously question the hotel's hygiene. I reported hair and black dust on the sheets and asked for them to be changed. While waiting a long time, I checked the other bed and found little nail clippings, hair, and what looked like skin flakes there too. The desk staff apologized sincerely and promised to replace all the bedding, but finding that much dirt was shocking. Earlier, we arrived before the 3 PM check-in and asked to leave our luggage. The woman at reception ignored us until we spoke up, then remained expressionless. When we came back to check in, a different staff member was noticeably friendlier. We'd seen the high Rakuten rating and expected an easy night, so this was a huge disappointment. The room had only a ventilation window and dim light, but the bedding was still visibly dirty.

The location is handy, right next to wakayama train station, and the room was clean with enough space. The air conditioning worked perfectly too. But our stay was uncomfortable in other ways. We're three tall Dutch guys, about 1.80 cm, and had booked one single room and one double. The beds were too short, and the double bed was too narrow for two. The only difference between the single and double seemed to be an extra pillow and a higher price. When we asked the lobby for help, they just repeated that all rooms are the same and suggested paying 6000 yen for two separate rooms. Our complaints were ignored. We asked for another blanket because the one provided was too small for both of us, and got a fleece blanket. The lobby felt depressing, and our room had no view. The bathroom was a bit tight but okay. If you're over 1.80 meters tall or on the wide side, this hotel probably isn't for you.

Breakfast was a highlight, with a good spread and plenty to go back for seconds. I really enjoyed it, and the breakfast staff were kind and helpful. The rooms are large and have a good view. The location is excellent, just behind the station.

The room lighting was the main problem for me. It was much too dark. The location is convenient, and the service was average, not especially friendly. Since you don't usually need to interact much with the front desk during a typical stay, that wasn't a major issue.