Smile Hotel Yonezawa

I chose this place for a trip to climb Mount Zao and Mount Azuma because I thought it had a large public bath. At check-in I learned that the public bath was for men only, and women were expected to use the bath in their rooms. Had that been made clear, I wouldn't have booked. The free amenities came in pouches from a brand I didn't know, so I passed on them. There aren't any day-use hot springs within walking distance of Yonezawa Station, and I ended up using the tiny unit bath in my room. The lodging is also a little far from the station. Next time I'll stay somewhere else. I booked through Agoda, and the hotel name there hasn't been updated.

The croissant at breakfast was buttery and delicious, even though there wasn't much choice. If your booking is room-only, you can add breakfast for ¥800, which seemed fair for the quality. There's apparently a 24-hour supermarket nearby, handy if you're trying to keep costs down. The hotel is about a five-minute walk from Yonezawa Station's east exit. Amenities are self-serve after check-in, and besides a toothbrush you may want to bring your own loungewear. My room had one outlet at the desk, plus a three-socket power strip, but no USB ports, so bring an adapter if you need one. I kept the card key in my wallet since it doesn't go into a slot inside the room. The air conditioner only lets you set fan speed or turn it off, though that didn't bother me much. I used the public bath too, but it seems there isn't a separate one for women.

There's a large public bath on the second floor, and the station is only a few minutes away. Still, the value felt below average. The rooms are tight, basically just enough space for the bed, and the breakfast buffet was disappointing.

The breakfast was the biggest letdown. It cost only 800 yen, but I would've been better off grabbing bread or rice balls at a convenience store. The rooms and large public bath looked old and weren't very clean. Getting here takes some walking. It's by Yonezawa Station's back entrance, and you have to cross the elevated walkway, which ends on a gravel road. There's no convenience store nearby. I paid 10,800 yen for a night with breakfast, which felt expensive for the location and quality. Maybe I was judging it against the nice hotel I stayed in downtown the night before, which cost about the same and had a lavish breakfast.