Okayama Koraku Hotel

Facilities: The room was quite spacious; we could lay down two 30-inch suitcases flat, and there was plenty of room for a 24-inch one on the luggage rack. On our floor, there was a microwave, disposable chopsticks, and an ice machine. The shower had great water pressure, and the bed and pillows were very comfortable. It was fully equipped, and the toiletries were POLA. Hygiene: Overall, it was quite clean, though there was a bit of dust on the windowsill, probably because it was hidden by the table and curtains. Environment: The location is very convenient. There's a Matsumoto Kiyoshi downstairs and a Lawson directly across the street. Kani Doraku is also very close, and it's only a 10-minute walk to the Shinkansen. Service: Excellent. The front desk provided complimentary amenities and consumables.

Location: It's about an 8-10 minute walk from Okayama Station. Taking the underground passage towards Takashimaya is more convenient as there's a direct elevator. If you walk along the food street, it might be a bit challenging with heavy luggage. There's a streetcar stop nearby; it's two stops to Okayama Castle, saving you about 10 minutes compared to walking the full 20 minutes. Service: Pretty good, luggage storage was fine. Facilities: The room was spacious, and the decor was distinctive. There were unique ornaments at each elevator entrance.

I booked the cheapest "random room type" and arrived a little past 2 PM, just before check-in. They kindly gave me a super spacious king room with a balcony ahead of time! It's very close to the station, about a 5-minute walk. Across the street from the hotel, on the second floor, there's an izakaya with delicious fried chicken wings! However, if you're uncomfortable with a mirror facing the bed, I wouldn't recommend it, as older hotels with traditional decor often have this setup. You can walk to Korakuen Garden, which takes about 20 minutes if you're fast.

The front desk staff were incredibly friendly. The hotel facilities and rooms were also very clean. The location might be a bit far from the JR station, about a 15-minute walk.