Super Hotel Lohas Ikebukuro-Eki Kitaguchi

I stayed at this hotel for eight nights. During the first two nights, I stayed alone. Although the room was small, it was reasonably well equipped, and the large public bath was very nice. Considering the price, it felt acceptable at first, so I was fairly satisfied. 😀 However, things became disappointing after my friend joined me. In order to save money, we decided to stay in the same room, so I booked a double room. After moving, I realized that the so-called “double room” was essentially the same size and layout as the single room I had stayed in before. In other words, I paid for two people but got virtually the same amount of space. This was particularly frustrating because the room was clearly too small for two people with luggage. At that point, I genuinely regretted not booking two separate single rooms from the beginning, which would have provided much more space and comfort. When I raised this concern with the hotel staff, the explanation given by the manager was: “If one person stays in a room with a double bed, that means they are very lucky.” Honestly, I found this response quite dismissive and unhelpful. It did not address the actual issue of room size and value for money, and it felt more like an excuse than a reasonable explanation. That said, aside from the room size issue, the overall atmosphere of the hotel is quite good. The breakfast is tasty, the lobby is comfortable, and the public bath facilities are well maintained. The bath is open for long hours, which is great for travelers who return late at night and still want to relax. The location is also very convenient, as it is close to Ikebukuro Station. The front desk staff are generally very kind and professional. Two staff members who assisted me were from Korea and could speak at least three, and their explanations were clear and detailed. I would especially like to thank one staff member from Taiwan. When he saw me returning with a lot of luggage, he proactively helped carry it all the way to my room. As a solo traveler abroad, this small gesture made me feel truly welcomed and cared for. We stayed at this hotel for 8 nights. I stayed alone for the first two nights. To be honest, the room was quite compact, but it had all the necessary amenities, a large public bath, and the ability to enjoy the hot springs. Considering the price, my initial impression was, "Well, that's about right." 😀 However, once my friend and I met up, my dissatisfaction began to mount. We decided to stay in the same room to save money and booked a double room, but when we actually moved in, it turned out to be almost the same size and design as the single room we'd stayed in originally. In other words, even though we were paying for two people, the room size was almost the same. To be honest, it was quite cramped for two people with suitcases, and it was not very comfortable. At this point, I strongly regretted not reserving two separate single rooms from the beginning. When I spoke to the staff about this, the manager explained, "You're very lucky to be able to stay in a room with a double bed by yourself." To be honest, this response felt quite strange. Since my issue wasn't the "bed" but the "balance between room size and price," I felt like we weren't on the same page. That said, apart from the spaciousness of the room, I think the overall atmosphere of the hotel is good. The breakfast is delicious, the lobby is relaxing, and the large public bath is well-equipped. The hotel's long opening hours are a major plus, so being able to bathe even after staying out late into the night is a major draw. It's also close to Ikebukuro Station, making it a very convenient location. The front desk staff were generally friendly. The two Korean staff members who assisted me spoke at least three languages and were very thorough in their explanations. I'd like to especially thank the Taiwanese staff member. When I returned with a large amount of luggage, they helped me carry it to my room. As a solo traveler abroad, I really appreciated their thoughtfulness and it warmed my heart.

Perhaps because I timed it right, I was able to stay for one night at a reasonable price. I was also able to use the public hot springs, which was a nice touch.

A very clean and comfortable hotel, but the rooms and toilets are rather small.