Comfort Inn Himeji Yumesakibashi

Free parking is a nice hotel. And I think it's a good hotel because everything is "spread" despite the low price. The ceiling is high and the bed is spacious. The shower room is also spacious. The couple would reserve a twin, but I had no room for a double without having to make it a twin. I was able to stay quiet without noisy customers. The only thing that caught my attention was the short curtains in the bathroom.

A little far from the Castle but it was clean and the staff was courteous. The breakfast was great! The bed was a little too firm for me. It can be reached by bus or taxi. A good alternative if you can't find a hotel in Himeji proper.

There are too many 5-star reviews for undeserving hotels. I do not award the highest possible rating lightly. There are a few little things that actually subtract a star, but the unexpected free bonus amenities won it back. Summary: Arrived 5 hours before check in time and the room wasn't ready. No problem checking in my bags though. Nobody speaks English in Himeji except for in the visitor center at the train station, so I gestured to a picture of a bicycle to ask where to rent one. The woman at the desk handed me 2 keys and walked me to the hotel bicycle parking lot. I hadn't even checked in and they gave me and my son each a bicycle to borrow free of charge. We had a great time every day riding the hotel's bicycles all over Himeji through neighborhoods, parks, castles, etc. Didn't spend any money on taxis. Even after we checked out, they held our luggage while we biked around town the last day. It was so nice to not worry about transportation during our trip. That won the 5th star back. Tip: The staff only speaks Japanese well (some English, but don't count on it). If you do not speak Japanese, bring a notebook computer or smart phone, connect to the hotel wireless, and use Google Translate to communicate via typing. Staff is very patient and will work with you. Pros: Very friendly staff Very clean room Very quiet Feels safe Good view of the river and associated birds, bicyclists, joggers, walkers, etc. Only one person at the front desk, but she did everything from directions, to checking bags, to bicycle loans, etc. Very nice woman. Cons: By international standards the rooms were small. The shower water does fluctuate a little from cooler to warmer. The hotel is not near the train station. Expect to pay Y1,500 to Y2,000 each direction for a taxi. Overall: If you want to see "pure" Japan, Himeji is relatively uncontaminated by foreign influences. A great place to spend a few days admiring a peaceful city in a beautiful country. It is on the bullet train route to Hiroshima and easy to get in and out of. Local public transportation is largely limited to busses. Bicycles are definitely the best way to get around if the weather permits - many of the locals use them.