Hotel Tamanoya in Saijo

I booked a one-night stay for three people on November 1st through Agoda. (The booking details were for a 10-tatami mat Japanese-style room with a private hot spring bath, a view of the Amagi mountain range, and free parking.) However, it was nothing like that. (Photo included) It was just a regular tatami room facing the station, with a unit bath, and I was charged for parking. This is the first time I've ever received something so different from what I booked. The next day, I was glad I had booked another hotel through Rakuten. When I called the hotel in advance to make a reservation for breakfast, they said, "We don't serve breakfast on Sundays." They were polite on the phone, so I thought, "Oh well..." On the day of arrival, when I told them I would be late and asked about the parking location, the response was somewhat grumpy. I had paid by credit card in advance, so I thought I could check in right away, but it took a long time to check in because of the parking fee and my address, which was unpleasant. I also disliked the system of having to buy beer and tea at the reception. It seemed like it was a one-person operation, and they didn't seem to want to help at such a late hour (it was 10pm). The room had tatami mats, and the air conditioner had fixed maximum and maximum settings, so there was a fan, probably because it gets hot in the summer. The room was very clean, so it might be okay if you just need a place to sleep. The futon was thin, and the duvet cover was only half-covered?? My family and I discussed it, wondering what was going on. The good thing was that the "Railway History Park SAIJO," adjacent to the station, was nearby.

There are plenty of things to see, including Shinkansen, steam locomotives, and dioramas, and you can actually see and ride the Free Gauge Train. It's educational about the history of railways in Shikoku, so both adults and children can enjoy it.

The hotel is conveniently located near Iyo-Saijo Station.

When I arrived and walked into the hotel, I was shocked to see cigarette ashes scattered all over the desk. Worried about whether the staff had even cleaned the room, I wiped the ashes off the desk with some disinfectant tissues and then checked everywhere myself—a first for me.

The kettle provided was dirty, and the lid was broken, so I didn't even feel like boiling water.

The refrigerator door was dirty and sticky.

Even though there was a TV, I couldn't watch terrestrial TV, the bidet in the toilet didn't work, the bathtub was covered in mold, and the walls were so thin you could hear everything.

I couldn't help but feel a sense of Iyo merchant spirit at the effort they put into charging people to stay in a place like this. (lol)

I think your evaluation will vary depending on what you look for in a hotel. (If you're just going to sleep, it's probably acceptable.)

I'd heard Saijo is known as the "Water City," so I was expecting it to be beautiful, but I was in for a complete surprise.