Sotetsu Fresa Inn Yokohama Sakuragi-Cho

The room window was very small and frosted, only able to open a tiny bit for ventilation. The room felt a bit damp in September. The room size was decent, with a small table for dining. It's close to Metro Exit 3, but carrying luggage up the stairs was tough; Exit 5, which has an elevator, should also be nearby.

Location: It's right by Exit 3 of Bashamichi, with the hotel on the left and a 7-Eleven across the street on the right. However, it's stairs, so if you have luggage, you can use another exit which is also quite close. It's convenient if you're taking the Minatomirai Line, and there's also the Fukutoshin Line for direct access to Tokyo. Check-in is on the second floor, where you'll also find the ice machine, microwave, and washing machines (only two available). The hallway leading into the room is wide enough to open a suitcase, and you can also store luggage under the bed. There's no complimentary bottled water in the bedroom. The bed linen is a complete set, not just a sheet over the duvet, which is a nice touch as many places only provide a sheet. The bedroom itself is relatively compact.

When you're at the Carriage Road station, don't follow Gaode Maps. The closest exit is Exit 3 (Prefectural Museum Exit). What I was quite satisfied with was that this was the only hotel on our trip that provided disposable slippers for children. Also, the drinking water was clean with no strange taste, and the cleaning was very prompt. However, I had requested beforehand that the two rooms I booked be on the same floor, but this couldn't be accommodated.

There are two Sakuragicho INNs right next to each other. The first one you see coming from Yokohama Station, the one with the ramen shop and Lawson downstairs, is not it. You have to cross a small road and walk a little further. When we went to check in, they couldn't find our reservation. The staff, clearly used to this, told us the location of the other branch. It seems many people make this mistake.

The overall environment and service were great. However, the shower curtain seemed like it hadn't been cleaned in a while, with large areas at the bottom turning reddish. The breakfast selection wasn't extensive but decent; however, 1600 JPY is honestly too expensive. On the bright side, they had a really delicious ramen at breakfast that I'd recommend trying.

The hotel is right by Exit 3 of Bashamichi Station, but there's no elevator. When you're arriving or leaving with luggage, you can use Exit 5, which is just around the corner to the right of the hotel and also very close. You can pick up toiletries at the front desk, but the toothbrush bristles were quite hard and the head was small, making it a bit uncomfortable to use. It's within walking distance to the Red Brick Warehouse. If you head towards Kannai Station, there are plenty of dining options.