First Cube Yamaguchi

It's a basic budget hotel that does the job. Just be aware that parking can be uncertain, since most spaces are occupied from the evening on.

Rooms are fairly spacious, though getting here from the station means a bit of a walk. Breakfast came as a set Japanese bento, with rice, miso soup, and drinks available for self-service. The menu was pretty much unchanged on day two, maybe exactly the same, but there was still an amazing variety. The place wasn't very crowded. I paid by credit card.

The toilets are quite a walk from the dorms, and the city itself felt very boring. The famous caves are the main reason to stay in the area, but they're quite far from this hotel, so I'd look for somewhere closer to them with a better attitude. I didn't enjoy my stay. It felt expensive for what you get, especially since it cost twice what I used to pay for a capsule hotel in Japan. Check-in and check-out times were really inconvenient. Even if the room was clean and the hotel empty, they wouldn't let me in before 4 p.m. I don't understand this strict attitude toward tourists in Japan when you've paid for the room. Check-out is at 10 a.m., so be ready to get up early, because they charge extra if you're late.

The free bikes made it easy to explore town, and the staff, from the front desk to housekeeping, were always helpful and greeted me with a smile. I liked my stay enough to add two more nights in Yamaguchi. I was moved up from the capsule hotel to a room because they had spare rooms during my visit. It was just right for travelling alone: fast Wi-Fi, good room and water heating, a small fridge, and even an air filter. There was also a TV and hair dryer, though I didn't use them. The bed was extremely comfortable. I couldn't find a microwave, then remembered this wasn't an Airbnb.