Hotel Gasthof — Hotel in Kagoshima

Stayed at the Gasthof Hotel from 19-22 December 2015. It wasn't our first choice but we booked it because it was the only hotel with a triple room available one month before the peak travel period of December.||||As we arrived before the official check-in time of 4pm (4pm!), we left our luggage with reception before heading off to Sakurajima. We returned at about 3:30pm and was told our room is ready. Strangely, we were given the keys to two adjoining rooms. Both with one double bed and one single bed. We double checked our reservation and it said '1 room/3 guests'. Upon inquiring with the reception, we were told that each room can accommodate 2 guests. Since there were 3 of us, we were given 2 rooms. After some further checking the hotel said they can let us have one double room with an extra bed included for a fee (which was the room's configuration as we found it). This would work out to be cheaper than our original reservation. All we have to do is to cancel our original reservation online. Fine, so that was done and we happily gave up the key to one of the rooms.||||The next day, we were told by the hotel we have to move to another room because they needed both the adjoining rooms. Rather annoying to have to move but we did so anyway on account of them charging us less than the original room price.||||The saga didn't end there. On the second night at about 3am, the fire alarm rang. For 5 minutes, hotel guests were in the hallway wondering what had happened and whether if we needed to evacuate. The hotel staff soon sounded the all-clear and we all went back to our sleep.||||The hotel's location is but a short 5 minutes walk from the main Kagoshima train station. It occupies the lower 2 levels of what looked like a 4-storey building. Staff were incredibly polite and helpful, though we believe they were hampered by hotel policies (the ridiculous check in time at 4pm and check out time at 10am for example). It is but a hop and skip away from convenient stores, food outlets, etc.||||The room had seen better days. It was really cramped. If you are any taller than 1.8 metres, your feet would touch the wall as you sleep. The space between the bed and the wall is that narrow. Which also means you have hardly any space to lay down and open your luggage. The carpet was rather worn and felt a little bit grimey. The showers and toilet (with a washlet) worked perfectly, though, as mentioned previously, it was really cramped. If you are a tall person, you may hit your head against the towel rack when standing up from the toilet. Hotel guests can park their car right beside the hotel for free.||||The hotel tries to adhere to its European theme. There is a fireplace in the lobby and the furnishings in the room are of the heavy wood types - which only serves to make the already small rooms smaller.||||As much as the hotel's location and the service level of its staff are nothing short of stellar, you would do well to not stay there unless you have no other options available...

Stayed at the Gasthof Hotel from 19-22 December 2015. It wasn't our first choice but we booked it because it was the only hotel with a triple room available one month before the peak travel period of December.||||As we arrived before the official check-in time of 4pm (4pm!), we left our luggage with reception before heading off to Sakurajima. We returned at about 3:30pm and was told our room is ready. Strangely, we were given the keys to two adjoining rooms. Both with one double bed and one single bed. We double checked our reservation and it said '1 room/3 guests'. Upon inquiring with the reception, we were told that each room can accommodate 2 guests. Since there were 3 of us, we were given 2 rooms. After some further checking the hotel said they can let us have one double room with an extra bed included for a fee (which was the room's configuration as we found it). This would work out to be cheaper than our original reservation. All we have to do is to cancel our original reservation online. Fine, so that was done and we happily gave up the key to one of the rooms.||||The next day, we were told by the hotel we have to move to another room because they needed both the adjoining rooms. Rather annoying to have to move but we did so anyway on account of them charging us less than the original room price.||||The saga didn't end there. On the second night at about 3am, the fire alarm rang. For 5 minutes, hotel guests were in the hallway wondering what had happened and whether if we needed to evacuate. The hotel staff soon sounded the all-clear and we all went back to our sleep.||||The hotel's location is but a short 5 minutes walk from the main Kagoshima train station. It occupies the lower 2 levels of what looked like a 4-storey building. Staff were incredibly polite and helpful, though we believe they were hampered by hotel policies (the ridiculous check in time at 4pm and check out time at 10am for example). It is but a hop and skip away from convenient stores, food outlets, etc.||||The room had seen better days. It was really cramped. If you are any taller than 1.8 metres, your feet would touch the wall as you sleep. The space between the bed and the wall is that narrow. Which also means you have hardly any space to lay down and open your luggage. The carpet was rather worn and felt a little bit grimey. The showers and toilet (with a washlet) worked perfectly, though, as mentioned previously, it was really cramped. If you are a tall person, you may hit your head against the towel rack when standing up from the toilet. Hotel guests can park their car right beside the hotel for free.||||The hotel tries to adhere to its European theme. There is a fireplace in the lobby and the furnishings in the room are of the heavy wood types - which only serves to make the already small rooms smaller.||||As much as the hotel's location and the service level of its staff are nothing short of stellar, you would do well to not stay there unless you have no other options available...

The Bavarian theme for this hotel could have worked out well but like so many things about this hotel doesn't quite make it. The solid wood furniture is nice but a bit gloomy, When you get to the rooms it is ridiculous because it takes up the whole room and Japanese hotel rooms are small enough anyway. My room had s four- poster double bed. You had to negotiate around the furniture rather than use it. Together with the muted lighting, the effect was depressing. And don't drop anything, it's sure to roll under the massive furniture. The massive double bed was OK for me but for 2 people, one would have to climb over the other or come up from the bottom. Everything seemed inconvenient as a result of the imposition of the theme on the Japanese building. There was some nice art but because it matched, it added to the gloom. There is no elevator so getting your luggage to your room is a backbreaker, Breakfast is ¥500 extra and is not worth it. There was a wide range of Japanese dishes but it lacked the basics. No egg at all. I got one by asking but no nori to eat it with and the rice wasn't hot enough to cook the egg. There were other examples of trying to be cleverer in service or gadgets and failing. The coffee machine worked. The staff were friendly and helpful but kept bumping up against house rules that spoiled the impression of hospitality. It is reasonably close to Kagoshimachuo eki. I didn't really feel good about my stay despite the hotel being satisfactory. I...