Dormy Inn Kagoshima
Kagoshima

We love Dormy Inns! Our director James is an absolute stickler for detail and luxury, but he would happily spend an entire Japan trip in these hotels. The rooms are compact, the exteriors are nondescript and the public areas, although smart, are not luxurious. So, what's the draw? Well a big part of it is the hot spring bathhouses ('onsen') on the top floor of each Dormy Inn hotel, and the one in Kagoshima is no exception.

In fact, the onsen here are a real bonus as they are of a particularly generous size, including both indoor and outdoor baths. Open-air onsens are rarely found in urban cities so usually comes as a nice surprise to guests staying here! They are perfect to relax and unwind in, in true Japanese-style, at the end of a day hiking around Sakurajima volcano in Kagoshima.

Cleanliness and service standards anywhere in Japan are high, but Dormy Inn staff are particularly welcoming and helpful as they embrace the market moving away from Japanese businessmen and towards foreign visitors. Despite its reasonable cost, Dormy Inn offers perks, such as a shuttle bus service to the station. Amenities in each room of this hotel include complimentary Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, coffee or tea makers and slippers.

Well-known for its convenience, Dormy Inn is ideally located right between the train station and the harbour. The surrounding sights are also within walking distance, with Tenmonkan shopping and entertainment area just a stone’s throw away. We recommend wandering downtown to dine and trying the local specialities, along the likes of flying fish 'sashimi'. It would be a shame to miss out on the gastronomy offered in this city as Kagoshima is regarded by some as the "Naples of the Eastern World" – not only is it celebrated for its fresh seafood but its bay location is also reminiscent of the Mediterranean city.

We must add too that the breakfast provided in this hotel is surprisingly varied – with around fifty different Western and Japanese dishes to choose from, the spread will suit any taste palate. Convenient and modest, Dormy Inn really does make the ideal choice in Kagoshima for a short city stay.

To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.
Bill Bryson