Mitsui Garden Hotel Okayama

Breakfast was very good with tasty food and a good variety. We particularly liked that black tea was available in the room. Hotel location was excellent - about 3 min walk from the station. Staff were friendly and efficient with very good service. The room was very clean and comfortable. Okayama garden and castle is just a short tram ride away. The tram is very close to the hotel. Kurashiki historical district is also just a 20 min train ride away. Overall, Mitsui Garden Hotel is definitely recommended for a stay in Okayama. We stayed 3 nights and enjoyed our visit to Okayama.

Chosen for proximity to rail station, maybe 3 minutes walk, behind Granvia Hotel. And another very helpful tourist information office, also at the station. A first class 4 star hotel with good public spaces and comfortable, modern rooms. Hardly any interaction with staff who seemed friendly enough and were on hand but transactions mostly digital/electronic. Didn't attempt breakfast in austere room off lobby but complimentary coffee and refreshments available from 1 pm but not during morning. The other great advantage was the Aeon Mall immediately behind the hotel where we ate twice (excellent range of inexpensive restaurants). Couldn't find other restaurants although plenty of Japanese eateries in nearby streets. Aeon Mall had massive Hands store (formerly Tokyu Hands) and UniGlo with prices roughly half of UK prices in some cases. Shopped up a storm consequently. Station also had impressive range of restaurants and we enjoyed a tempura meal there one evening. We appreciated the free lounge gear provided by most Japanese hotels and the spa facility was tempting but our time too short. As well as a day out in charming Kurashiki (30 minutes by train), we walked to the famous Ujo/Crow Castle, with splendid cherry blossom and by the river. Discovered Schlossgasse Mozart on the way back with delicious cakes beautifully presented and boxed for take-away. Only in Japan. Third day we took train to Takamatsu, thereby adding the island of Shikoku to our collection. It's former castle proved a most tranquil setting with great history. The several kilometer-long bridge from the mainland was apparently built in 10 years between the 1980's and 1990's and was worth the journey alone. Spectacular.

Close to Okayama station and just opposite the big Aeon Mall. The staff are professional and helpful. We left a phone charger in the room. We contacted them through booking.com and they replied quickly. It was shipped back to us after a week through a company that handles lost items, at a reasonable cost. Also, one of our room has view to the Shinkansen tracks which was fun to watch (windows are well soundproofed though you barely notice that if it's shut). It was handy to have an iron and ironing board in the room.

We used APA several times in many cities, and Okayama was one of the few that was actually "ekimae", so plus there. The hotel was nice, clean, and comfortable like the chain standard, with easy access to train, buses, and taxi. And, good restaurants, food stores, and cafes surround this hotel. Breakfast was good. The staff was very nice.

Next to the train station, so very convenient as there are restaurants and supermarkets nearby, plus a big shopping mall - easy to plan visiting all the region by train Breakfast might seem expensive, but it's really worth the price (if you can have a good deal) - nice, tasty and various choices, both japanese (mainly) and western (fewer) style. Staff was professional, helpful and welcoming