The Royal Park Canvas Kobe Sannomiya

I stayed for a week and had a "comfort double" room. I knew in advance that this would only have a shower, which is fine, but very few hotels in Japan have the option of a room with only a shower/no bath. So take that as you will. The main issue with this place is that they don't specify that a "comfort double" room is actually a room with two twin beds butted together to approximate a king-sized bed. Therefore it has a ridge down the middle making it uncomfortable to actually sleep in it as a king-sized bed. This is misleading advertising. However the room is comfortable apart from this, with a little table and sofa and all the usual things. The staff are nice, although they seem to be keeping you under surveillance so there is a slight feeling of being spied upon. You will be greeted as you come and go at every moment. Some of us are shy and want to blend into the background, you know? But I understand this is probably because of security. On that note, the lift doesn't operate without a card key, which helps with peace of mind. There is a gym, a laundry room, ironing rooms etc but no microwave publicly available so you have to ask for help at the desk to have your food heated. A bit embarrassing. Every evening all guests are given "croffles", which are waffles made of croissant dough. These come with a choice of toppings (mixed berries, apple pieces, caramel syrup, cinnamon, whipped cream) and can be heated up in a little toaster oven. It's self-service and the quantity is unlimited. Some reviews suggest the items are not replenished but this is inaccurate; there was plenty to go around at all times. Free unlimited tea and coffee including iced and decaf options are also available all day. As regards the location, it's right at the top end of Sannomiya so you're actually pretty much equidistant between JR Sannomiya and Motomachi stations. So no matter which you choose you will have a little bit of a walk, especially if you want to use Hankyu or Hanshin. It's handily right across the road from a small branch of Don Quixote which is open 24 hours, and there is a Lawson, Family Mart and Seven-11 all within a block or so. This hotel is on the main entertainment thoroughfare in Sannomiya so you have every restaurant and izakaya option available at all times. But you also have the pleasure of listening to drunken revellers yahooing 24/7 outside the window. And the "ladies" from the sexy bars advertising their establishments make for quite the gauntlet run between the train station and the hotel once evening comes. This can be quite intimidating for female guests staying in the area alone (like me), as the hosts and hostesses from those nightclubs are rather uncouth and will definitely point and laugh at you as you pass by. I didn't like that feeling so often found myself walking the long way around the block in the evening to avoid them. This hotel had the reputation of luxury on the site from which I booked my stay. I wouldn't say "luxury" is the correct term, but it's a comfortable place with a few little extra touches. A less in-your-face presence by the staff and more honest advertising of the location and room/bed styles would improve the rating of this place. It's nice enough but I feel like I would go somewhere else next time.

Very clean hotel. Very big shower, lots of space, but no bathtub in a normal room. Very good location, main train station is about 7 min walk. The first floor cafe offers free tea and coffee and in the evening free waffles.