마로드 인 쿠마가야

From the rotary phones in the hallways to the VRC-style buttons in the elevators, this hotel is a relic from the past. It gives off a lot of 1970s - 1980's vibes, including the nightstand with built-in radio (which doesn't work) and the old-fashioned thermostat on the wall. Pros: Friendly staff. Overall quiet and clean vibes. Not too far from the train station. Has a flat-screen LCD TV with HDMI hook up. Cons: The heater is controlled by a dial on the nightstand with Off, Low, Medium, and High as the settings. Even set at the Off position, the vent was still putting out hot dry air so it made the room very warm and hot. The staff were kind enough to provide an oscillating fan, but I still had to keep the window open all night with 0°C temperatures outside to keep it cool enough inside that I didn't burn up. The wall near my bed had a bloodstain smeared on it that is easily visible so I'm not sure why no one attempted to clean it up. Fridge didn't come with any complimentary water. It's about a 10 minute walk to the nearest convenience store if you're looking for snacks, but they do have vending machines inside on some floors. Overall, it wasn't a terrible place, but it also wasn't the best. It was overpriced for what I got, but I understand that during the New Year break, every hotel in Japan is overpriced. Would I stay here again? No. Would I recommend it to others? Yes, only if you can't find something better.