HOTEL ROUTE-INN KAMISUWA

The room felt okay, a classic Japanese-style room. I woke up too late for the complimentary breakfast, so I didn't get to eat it. The hot spring bath downstairs was pretty good, and the price was reasonable, especially considering it's in the countryside.

The hotel has a good location, right by Lake Suwa and only a few hundred meters from the station. It's an older-style hotel, and you use a key for your room. There's a large public bath, and since there weren't many guests on a weekday, I had it all to myself.

The hotel was extremely old and still used physical keys; the shower curtain in the bathroom smelled terrible. The restaurant was small, but the croissants for breakfast were delicious. The location is quite close to several attractions near Lake Suwa.

Getting to the JR station involves a long detour, a 10-minute walk, which can be quite tiring if you're dragging a large suitcase. The location is quite good; across a small street are an art museum and a large public bath, and the lakeside is breathtakingly beautiful. There's also a small market on weekends where locals sell their own homegrown vegetables, fruits, and bread – a truly idyllic scene. The hotel itself is rather mediocre; the cleanliness is unusually poor for a Japanese hotel, with many stains on the wallpaper, making it unpleasant. The service was also subpar; when I booked the wrong room and asked the front desk for an extra blanket, they just gave me a few big X's. The breakfast was fairly plentiful. The public bath has a bathhouse atmosphere, but don't expect too much.

This Route Inn is very old, and the building's deterioration was evident. The room comfort level was also low, and I don't think I'll be staying here again.