HOTEL ZEN Yokohama Hazawa

It's so much better than staying in some stupid hotel. New Year's is the best time to come here, and this is where I spend it every year.

The room felt like living in a brand new apartment, and everything from the lobby area to the room was incredibly clean. The bath was spotless too, with a faint scent of fresh cleaning detergent that made it seem the staff had taken real care. It was cold, so we were eager to get in. Hot water poured in and we warmed up quickly, though we got so carried away doing things in the bathroom that we nearly overheated. Then came the third hurdle. They'd rushed to prepare the room, and we couldn't find the bath towels. While searching with our wet bodies, we got the floor a little soaked ^^! We explained to the front desk, and they quickly brought a towel. We were wet and had nothing to hide, so sorry to the guy who delivered it, lol. We're into nerdy hobbies, so we actually enjoyed the unexpected incident. We'd arrived on a Sunday evening, unsure whether there'd be a room. A newly available room turned out brand new and non-smoking, very lucky for us as non-smokers. The spotless parking area felt almost underground, and we managed to park our slightly expensive car without any trouble, clearing the first hurdle. There were plenty of cars inside, perhaps because the hotel had just been renovated. Its popularity was obvious, and it was near the top of search results, so it must have been on everyone's radar.

I had very little contact with the staff, and hardly anything about the stay bothered me.

The renovated interior looks nice, and the amenities are good. Food wasn't bad, though eating in the room felt a little bland, and the videos got repetitive. Still, it's a good hotel.