OK hotel - nothing special

It is well located about 1-2 mins walk from the Asahibashi monorail station. (there is a lift if you have luggage). This is 1 stop from the main tourist/center of town. Walking will take approximately 10-15 mins depending on your pace.

There is a very good restaurant (ask at the hotel) just across the river for Okinawan Ramen. Around the hotel are a few good restaurants.

I would say location is one of the advantage of this property.

Arrived at the hotel late afternoon. Used the Monorail which was easy. Check-in area was busy, 3 associates were available with a trainee hanging around. Waited about 5 mins before I was helped - the trainee associate was trying to help me, but she was rather timid to ask one of her colleagues on the phone to move aside for her to use the computer. It was after another few minutes that I was helped when she had to ask another colleague coming out from the back office to help her to access the computer. (I had already done an online check-in - informed her, but she insisted that she need to have access to the computer).

No greeting as a HHonors member nor any further recognition. Was just informed of my perks, etc All in all, from the time I stepped into the hotel to the lift, it used up 15-20 mins of my time.

I was initially given an 'upgraded' room to a higher floor (10th floor) - however upon opening the door, I knew it would not be as it smelled strongly of cigarette smoke. [It was in any case a very small room - typical Japanese size].

I did not bother to call down, but just went down again back to the reception. After a short wait I was this time helped by a more experience and friendly (Indonesian) associate. She upgraded me to a Premium room on the 12th floor.

A Premium room is basically a room with a massage chair. However other than that, there is nothing else premium about it. Size-wise still a miniscule room (actually most probably the smallest room I have seen in a DT). The doublebed had one side pushed to the wall, and next to the bed, the small table. There was really no place to put your luggage properly. Luckily among the two of us, there was only 1 check-in size bag and 2 carry-on size bags. So in someway we managed to get things placed - although after the room is basically filled.

View was ok, with some straining you can see the port/sea and looking right, towards the city center.

This is another super tiny space. Water pressure was very good and the other amenities are basic DT type as expected. The toilet was automated as expected at Japanese hotels.

Staff in general are friendly. Service was ok. Every morning there is a team of 2 promoting a 5 minute free stretching (promoting their service in the long term I guess). Never tried it so can't comment on it. There is suppose to be a gym, but I did not check that out.

Breakfast was included as a HH benefit. Spread was ok - though I would say more of a 3* spread rather than a 4* spread. They had some local Okinawan dishes and western/continental spread. In general nothing to shout about.

The area can be crowded due to the hotel frequented by tour groups. As a HH member, you are encouraged to make a reservation. On both the times that I went for breakfast, it was not too bad - you could still have gotten a seat if you did not make a reservation.

TV in the room was super small - I think it was the same size as my laptop monitor at home (17"). English channel selection was very limited.

They did have coin operated laundry - which was cheap from the pricing I saw.

Internet speed was ok - I was given the premium internet - but still did not feel it was anything premium.

An OK hotel. I would most probably not pay > 12000 JPY for the basic room. As a HH Elite member, the benefits received are

- a small welcome gift of local sweets in the room

- a in house drink voucher to be used at the restaurant (seems no one uses the place - both time I went for my drink, it was empty) - though quality of the wine was very good.

- complimentary breakfast

Other than that, the rooms are really super duper tiny for a DT hotel. In my opinion, this is more of a 3* hotel rather than a 4* hotel.