Toyoko Inn Ichinoseki Ekimae

Ichinoseki is a town where you need to use a train or bus to see the sights. This hotel is really well located for those needs. Staff were friendly. The breakfast was good. There is a nearby supermarket and convenience store and restaurants right next door. There is a laundry in the lobby, quite cheap but it can be busy.

Great base for Hiraizumi, the bus for Chuonji departs from in front of the statioin, and you can see the hotel from the bus stop. My room was a typical compact business hotel room, clean, quiet. The provided breakfast is laid out in the lobby to help yourself, Japanese style breakfast, completely fine. The location is walkable to see the sights of Ichonoseki (I was given a map and recommended route by the very helpful tourist information office in front of the station west gate). My only issue was finding somewhere to eat, there are a few restaurants around the station area but the family one I enjoyed on a Monday night was shut on a Tuesday night and I didn't see anything else that appealed). Hiraizumi is a lovely town but not much there, only one soba restaurant was open for lunch in front of the station, so I'm glad I didn't stay there. It only took me about four hours to leisurely go around the UNESCO sites (didn't visit the mountain), taxi out to the cave shrine, walked to the World Heritage enter.

Service oriented reception. Very friendly and also like the breakfast staff who manage it. Felt welcome. Hotel seems to be new, everything is clean and tidy. Very near to the train station.