Centurion Hotel & Spa Kurashiki Station

Just a 3-4 minute walk from Kurashiki Station South Exit, this hotel has a lovely European resort style. For a Monday, a twin room at only 330 yen is incredible value for money! The room was quite spacious, and the large public bath in the basement was also very roomy, complete with free massage chairs. You can buy tickets for the Ohara Museum of Art at the front desk for 100 yen less than at the entrance. Plus, there's an affordable supermarket right across from the hotel that's open until 11 PM – perfect for grabbing groceries! I bought a bunch of late-night snacks and breakfast for the next day, all for less than 1500 yen.

The staff were incredibly friendly and attentive. I had a lovely interaction with one young lady from Jiangxi who even asked if I knew her home province – and yes, thanks to my middle school geography lessons, I certainly did! They offered a good selection of complimentary small drinks. There's a supermarket right across the street and an outlet mall nearby, making it very convenient for shopping.

This was my first stay at this hotel. It's conveniently located near the station and an outlet mall, about a 5-10 minute walk away, mostly on flat ground. However, there aren't many convenience stores nearby; the closest option is a supermarket that's open until 11 PM, which is quite handy. Upon check-in, the front desk informed us that check-in was between 11 AM and 3 PM, but we could already hear vacuuming noises as early as 9:30 AM. **Room:** The room was quite cramped, barely allowing enough space to open two 28-inch suitcases. The bathroom had good ventilation and was very clean. The soundproofing, however, could be improved. We could clearly hear people walking or talking in the corridor, and even the cleaning staff when they were on the same floor. The TV remote control was quite dusty, and the reception between the remote and the TV was poor. The air conditioning unit was located above the bed and was reasonably quiet. The hallways had low ceilings and were quite dim. **Local Area/Activities:** There are numerous restaurants and a supermarket nearby. The Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter is also accessible with about a 20-minute walk. **Safety:** I had some concerns regarding safety. The public bath could be accessed without a card, and the doors to both the men's and women's baths were frequently left open. **Walkability:** A supermarket is conveniently located about 5 minutes away on foot. Kurashiki Station is a 5-8 minute walk, and it's easily accessible not only by road but also via a connecting pedestrian bridge, which is very convenient. Ario Kurashiki and Mitsui Outlet Park Kurashiki are both within a 10-minute walk. **Dining:** There's a dining area located on the lobby floor, and breakfast can be purchased separately. Snacks and drinks are available for ¥200 each. Additionally, near the front desk, there's a self-service area offering daily essentials and green tea powder. **Important Notes:** The large public bath is not a natural hot spring (onsen). The changing room is quite small, with only about 10-12 lockers, 3 vanity stations, and 4 shower stalls. The shower water pressure was a bit low, and the water temperature was inconsistent. The bath itself was also quite shallow. It is open 24 hours. There is one massage chair available for guest use. There's only one elevator, which is not very spacious, leading to longer waiting times. Rooms only have two door hanger options: 'refill towel' or 'please clean,' which must be placed outside the door before 11 AM for service. Self-service laundry and drying facilities are available.

Not too far from the station, about a 10-minute walk. The staff were very nice, and one of them spoke fluent English, so communication was no problem. The only thing was that there was no bottled water provided in the room.

This is my third time staying at this hotel, and every experience has been fantastic. It's ideally located right across from the station, offers excellent facilities, and the service is incredibly warm. I'll definitely choose to stay here again if I come back to Kurashiki.